Is there a pathogenetic role for uric acid in hypertension and cardiovascular and renal disease?

Richard J. Johnson, Duk Hee Kang, Daniel Feig, Salah Kivlighn, John Kanellis, Susumu Watanabe, Katherine R. Tuttle, Bernardo Rodriguez-Iturbe, Jaime Herrera-Acosta, Marilda Mazzali

Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

1173 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hyperuricemia is associated with hypertension, vascular disease, renal disease, and cardiovascular events. In this report, we review the epidemiologic evidence and potential mechanisms for this association. We also summarize experimental studies that demonstrate that uric acid is not inert but may have both beneficial functions (acting as an antioxidant) as well as detrimental actions (to stimulate vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and induce endothelial dysfunction). A recently developed experimental model of mild hyperuricemia also provides the first provocative evidence that uric acid may have a pathogenic role in the development of hypertension, vascular disease, and renal disease. Thus, it is time to reevaluate the role of uric acid as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and hypertension and to design human studies to address this controversy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1183-1190
Number of pages8
JournalHypertension
Volume41
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jun 2003

Keywords

  • Antioxidants
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Hypertension, essential
  • Renal disease
  • Renin-angiotensin system
  • Vascular diseases

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