Causes of hypouricemia among outpatients

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the ratio and underlying causes of hypouricemia in patients visiting our outpatient clinics. The association between hypouricemia and uricosuria and other renal tubular defects was also studied. Methods: Serum uric acid levels were determined by uricase methods in 18,330 serum samples. Hypouricemia was defined as a serum uric acid level less than 2.0 mg/dL. Fractional excretion of uric acid (FEUA) higher than 10% was considered as pathological uricosuria. Results: The frequency of hypouricemia in our patient population was 0.51% (94/18,330). Moreover, using univariate analysis, hypouricemia was associated with age, gender, diet, drugs, and tea and coffee consumption. Multivariate analysis revealed that FEUA, drugs, and tea consumption were associated with hypouricemia. Conclusion: Hypouricemia is a relatively uncommon finding among our outpatients and when it occurs, it is frequently caused by inappropriate uricosuria.