Gout, hyperuricemia and chronic kidney disease: New treatment possibilities

IntroductionGout remains one of the most frequent diseases of joints and soft tissues. Apart from symptomatic gout, uric acid is also involved in pathogenesis and progression of several other diseases such as chronic kidney disease, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.AimTo describe the role of uric acid in the development of chronic diseases such as chronic kidney disease, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. We also aimed to discuss the role of uric acid in the development of gout, considered the most typical manifestation of hyperuricemia. The important task of our work was also identification of ‘classical’ and newest therapeutic strategies aimed to lower uric acid level and to improve the diseases that might be triggered with hyperuricemia.Material and methodsWe searched the latest literature in the field identifying studies describing the different roles of uric acid in the development of several diseases. We also found and described latest clinical trials focused on therapeutic lowering of hyperuricemia.DiscussionIncreasing evidence suggests contribution of uric acid in the development of chronic diseases, including chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and metabolic syndrome. The development of these pathologies may be controlled by effective lowering of hyperuricemia using both ‘classical’ drugs (i.e. allopurinol) and the newer agents (i.e. febuxostat).ConclusionsUric acid contributes to the development of several chronic, potentially life-threatening diseases. Hyperuricemia control should be considered as one of the strategies in their treatment.