Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Uric acid as a final product of purine metabolism has a role of risk factor for cardiovascular disease with less clear mechanism in general population. The aim of this study was Assessing and finding association between uric acid levels and CAD as a risk factor in renal transplant candidates and if we can predict need to revascularization according to uric acid level as an important measure.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that has been studied since April 2007 up to December 2008, in imam Khomeini and pars hospitals in Tehran. Inclusion criteria were patients with ESRD, more than 40 years who were candidates for renal transplantations. They underwent coronary angiography without regarding clinical cardiac symptom or results of noninvasive tests (for avoiding referral bias) and simultaneous analysis of serum uric acid level and results of this two producers were analyzed. Excluding criteria were patients who didn't tend to coronary angiography, those who hadn't adequate artery access, or potential co morbidity so that angiography was impossible and life expectancy less than 6 month.

Results: 56 (24 females and 32 males) were constituted. 89.3% (50) of patients had coronary artery disease. The average of uric acid level was significantly different in patients with and without CAD [7.62±1.07mg/dl and 5.95±1.29mg/dl respectively] (p=0.0024). Moreover, there was statistically significant difference in serum uric level between patients who were candidate for revascularization and the others [7.89±0.79mg/dl and 6.2±1.27mg/dl respectively] (p<0.001).

Conclusion: It seems that serum uric acid can be considered as a cardiovascular risk factor in renal transplant candidates and also as a predictor for related treatment.