Clinical manifestations of patients with hyperuricemia.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical manifestations of patients with hyperuricemia in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. METHOD: A cross sectional study of 188 hyperuricemic patients was done at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. History, physical examination, and blood samples were drawn to assess complete blood count (CBC), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), liver function test (LFT), and serum uric acid in all patients. RESULTS: Most of the patients (92%) were male, more than 50 years old (69%), the mean age of the patients was 56.7 +/- 12.1 years old. All of the female patients were more than 50 years old. Symptomatic hyperuricemia was found in 93%, the mean duration of symptoms was 63.2 +/- 66.3 months. The mean of the serum uric acid level was 10.0 +/- 2.9 mg/dl. Associated diseases were found in 46% of the patients, and 30% of these patients had more than one disease. Hypertension was the most common followed infrequency by dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease consecutively. Renal impairment was detected in about one-third of the patients. CONCLUSION: This study shows that hyperuricemia is common in elderly, male patients. Associated diseases and renal impairment can befoundfrequently, and the patients should be monitored.