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.

Background: Psoriasis is a common, chronic disease of the skin, in which both genetic and environmental factors play a critical role. The most characteristic lesions consist of red, scaly plaques present particularly over extensor surfaces and scalp. Studies have reported association between psoriasis and many other diseases in both cutaneous and systemic forms of the disease. Several studies with different and sometimes controversial results have been done about the relationship of hyperuricemia and psoriasis. The aim of our study was to assess serum uric acid levels in patients with psoriasis.

Methods: We studied 126 patients with psoriasis in a case-series study in Razi Hospital during one year. After recording the age, sex, duration, type and severity of the disease and presence or absence of psoriatic arthritis in the patients, they were referred to the laboratory for the determination of serum uric acid concentrations.

Results: The mean (±SD) serum uric acid level was 5.4±1.5 mg/dL (ranging from 1.9- 9.5 mg/dL). Although the mean serum uric acid levels were in the normal range but the values were significantly higher in patients with more severe forms of psoriasis (P<0.001), its longer duration (P<0.001) and psoriatic arthritis (P=0.003). Moreover, serum uric acid levels were significantly higher in patients with non-plaque-type than plaque-type psoriasis (P=0.01).

Conclusion: This study revealed that serum uric acid levels exacerbate by increases in the severity and duration of psoriasis, in psoriatic arthritis, and in patients with non-plaque-type psoriasis.

Background: Metabolic syndromes are known as a set of risk factors for the development of cardio-vascular disease and diabetes in the individual. The association between concentration of uric acid and metabolic syndrome in adolescents has yet to be established thoroughly. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between uric acid and metabolic syndrome in a sample of adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September 23, 2009 to September 22, 2010 in Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. In this study, 240 individuals aged 10-19 years were randomly selected among participants of the Ahvaz MetS study (120 subjects normal and 120 subjects MetS). The serum levels of UA were measured by a colorimetric method. In the normal group, anyone with abdominal obesity, high systolic or diastolic blood pressure, High-density lipoprotein (HDL)&le40 mg/dl, TG&le110 mg/dl, fasting blood sugar (FBS)&le100 mg/dl or diabetes was excluded from the study. History of Anticonvulsive drugs or steroids use was the criteria for exclusion for both groups. Results: Of the 240 subjects aged a mean of 14.95±2.64 years, mean of uric acid in metabolic syndrome group was 4.8±1.4 mg/dl and in the control group was 4.18±1.01 mg/d (P=0.001). Participants were divided into three groups based on uric acid levels: &le4.9 mg/dl, 4.9-5.7 mg/dl and >5.7 mg/dl. The risk of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in third group of uric acid than the second and first group (odds ratio [OR], 3.7 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70 - 8.04) and (OR, 5.9 95% CI, 2.42-14.35, P<0.001). In addition, uric acid level was inversely associated with hyperglycemia. The ORs of hypertriglyceridemia for the second and third group of uric acid were 4.36 (95% CI, 2.01- 9.47) 5.75 (95% CI, 2.43-13.61) respectively, compared with lowest group of UA. Conclusion: The results showed that hyperuricemia was significantly linked with increased risk for hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, high blood pressure and waist circumference. Among Ahvaz adolescents, serum concentrations of uric acid strongly associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and several of its components.