The proportion of filtered uric acid that is excreted in the urine can be determined through a calculation utilizing urinary and serum measurements of uric acid and creatinine. This calculation helps assess kidney function in the handling of urate. The derived value, expressed as a percentage, reflects the efficiency of the kidneys in excreting uric acid relative to the amount initially filtered.
Assessment of kidney urate handling is valuable in the differential diagnosis of hyperuricemia and hypouricemia. Factors like medication use, underlying medical conditions, and dietary habits can influence this excretion rate. Understanding an individual’s urate excretion pattern provides valuable insights into the etiology of abnormal uric acid levels and guides appropriate management strategies. Historically, this assessment played an important role in differentiating overproduction of uric acid from under-excretion of uric acid by kidneys.
