Renal urate excretion in patients with Wilson's disease

Abstract

Because many patients with Wilson's disease have hypouricemia, a study was made of 10 patients and 10 control persons to determine the nature of the renal excretory defect. Uric acid excretion was studied before and after the administration of pyrazinamide - an agent which is postulated to selectively block urate secretion. Urate excretion was also correlated with the quantity of various types of amino acids excreted. In the presence of pyrazinamide, total urate excretion is decreased markedly just as in normal individuals. It appears that proximal reabsorption of urate may not be impaired. There is a positive correlation between excessive urate excretion and that of serine, arginine, valine, and glutamine.