Can Raised Liver Enzymes Be Caused By Excessive Uric Acid?

A higher serum uric acid (UA) level is associated with greater mean serum ALT and GGT levels, and a greater probability of elevated ALT and GGT. This suggests that the serum UA level is associated with the development of cirrhosis and the presence of elevated serum liver enzymes after adjustments for important causes and risk factors of chronic liver disease.

High uric acid levels can result from the body making too much uric acid, not getting rid of enough of it, or both. Causes of high uric acid levels in the blood include diuretics, excessive alcohol consumption, excessive soda consumption, or eating too much. Hyperuricemia is a common disorder affecting patients of all ages and genders, with gout being the most common manifestation. Liver dysfunction can result directly through elevated uric acid levels through multi-dimensional mechanisms, causing inflammation and oxidative stress, leading to liver cell death. High liver enzymes often indicate inflammation or damage to liver cells.

Researchers examined the association between uric acid levels and liver enzyme functions among adults with hyperuricemia and gout in the United States using National Health Service data. Uric acid levels were found to be significantly associated with liver enzymes ALT and AST, AST/ALT ratio, and total bilirubin. Post hoc analysis showed high uric acid levels were significantly associated with high ALT (≥30), AST (≥33), and total bilirubin levels (≥17), except for ALP.

In addition, individuals with hyperuricemia are more likely to have elevated liver enzymes (AST or ALT) even after adjustment. Men had significantly higher risk of having elevated liver enzyme levels. BMI was positively correlated with the risk of hyperuricemia, in which abnormal liver enzymes may play a mediating role.

What is the most likely cause of elevated liver enzymes?

There are many causes of mildly elevated ALT and AST levels. The most common causes are nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic liver disease. In NAFLD, the liver has more fatty tissue in it than normal. Regular or heavy alcohol use can also hurt the liver and increase liver enzymes. Other medical conditions can increase liver enzymes, like hepatitis B or C and a condition that runs in families called hemochromatosis. Using certain medicines and over-the-counter supplements can also increase liver enzymes.

People with mild elevations in liver enzymes usually do not have symptoms.

Your doctor will ask you questions and examine you to try and find out why your liver enzymes are elevated. He or she may also do blood tests. A scan of your liver, called an ultrasound, might help your doctor find a cause.

What problems can high uric acid cause?

Hyperuricemia happens if too much uric acid stays in your body. Hyperuricemia causes uric acid to clump together in sharp crystals. These crystals can settle in your joints and cause gout, a painful form of arthritis. They can also build up in your kidneys and form kidney stones.

How is hyperuricemia treated?. If you have high uric acid levels but aren’t experiencing any symptoms, you might not need treatment for hyperuricemia. Your provider will tell you how often you should get blood tests to track any changes in your uric acid levels.

What should I eat or drink with hyperuricemia?. The best way to help lower your uric acid is to avoid high-purine foods and drinks as often as you can. Try to limit how often you eat or drink:

• Red meat and organ meats.
• Alcohol.
• Drinks sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (like soda).
• Fish (especially shellfish like lobster and shrimp).

What organ is affected by uric acid?

Most uric acid dissolves in blood and travels to the kidneys. From there, it passes out in urine. If your body produces too much uric acid or does not remove enough of it, you can get sick. A high level of uric acid in the blood is called hyperuricemia.

This test checks to see how much uric acid you have in your blood. Another test that can be used to check the level of uric acid is a test of your urine.

A blood sample is needed. Most of the time, blood is drawn from a vein located on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand.

Does high uric acid levels affect the liver?

Elevated serum uric acid (UA) levels strongly reflect and may even cause oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome, which are risk factors for the progression of liver disease. We sought to determine whether serum UA levels are associated with the development of cirrhosis or the presence of elevated serum liver enzymes. We used cohort data from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) to determine whether the baseline serum UA level was associated with the incidence of hospitalization or death due to cirrhosis among 5518 participants during a mean follow-up of 12. 9 years (range = 4-21 years) after the exclusion of the first 4 years of follow-up. We also used cross-sectional data from NHANES 1988-1994 (n = 10, 993) and NHANES 1999-2006 (n = 6186) to determine whether the serum UA level was associated with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), two markers of hepatic necroinflammation. Compared to persons in the lower third of the distribution of serum UA ( 6 mg/dL) had a higher risk of cirrhosis-related hospitalization or death (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 2. 8, 95% confidence interval (CI) =1. 3-5. 7), whereas the risk was not substantially increased in persons within the middle third (serum UA level = 2. 6-4. 8 mg/dL, AHR = 1. 3, 95% CI = 0. 6-2. 7). A higher serum UA level was associated with greater mean serum ALT and GGT levels and a greater probability of elevated serum ALT and GGT.

Conclusion: The serum UA level is associated with the development of cirrhosis and the presence of elevated serum liver enzymes after adjustments for important causes and risk factors of chronic liver disease.

Hypouricemic therapy: a novel potential therapeutic option for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Is liver spread high in uric acid?

Organ meats (sweetbreads, liver, tongue) are particularly high in purines, which can increase your uric acid levels and spur a gout attack.

Maintaining a balanced diet, low in uric acid, is critical for lowering the risk of a gout attack. Learn which foods and beverages you should eat and which ones to avoid.

Today, 1 in 4 adults in America live with arthritis. Nearly 60 million adults and children in America are diagnosed with arthritis, and most have pain that interferes with their daily lives. Every dollar you give helps provide research, support and services. Please give now to help conquer arthritis pain.

Stay in the Know. Live in the Yes.. Get involved with the arthritis community. Tell us a little about yourself and, based on your interests, you’ll receive emails packed with the latest information and resources to live your best life and connect with others.

Is uric acid related to fatty liver?

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between uric acid (UA) levels and mortality in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients without severe renal disease. NAFLD is characterized by excessive hepatic fat accumulation, insulin resistance, and steatosis in hepatocytes. It is the most common liver disease worldwide, with a global prevalence of 25. Metabolic factors such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, and hypertension are closely associated with NAFLD and may accelerate its progression.

Uric acid (UA) is the final product of purine metabolism, and hyperuricaemia is often observed in patients with renal or metabolic diseases. Previous studies have shown a significant association between hyperuricaemia and NAFLD, with higher prevalence in patients with hyperuricaemia than those without. However, most studies have been cross-sectional, and the relationship between UA levels and NAFLD outcomes has not been fully explored. This study aimed to evaluate the role of UA levels in predicting the outcome of NAFLD in a large population-based survey cohort.

Data were obtained from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a major nationwide survey conducted in the United States between 1988 and 1994. All study subjects were followed up until December 2015 to determine their survival status or cause of death. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University.

Is uric acid related to the kidney or liver?

When you have gout, you have too much uric acid in your blood. As your blood is filtered through your kidneys, uric acid can build up and form urate crystals. As the urate crystals pass through your kidneys, they can cause damage and scars. This kidney damage is thought to lead to kidney disease and failure over time, especially if your gout is left untreated.

NSAIDs, some of the most common pain relieving medicines for gout, can also lead to kidney disease over time. Talk to your doctor about how to manage your use of NSAIDs.

When you have both gout and kidney disease, treating gout can be difficult because some medicines (such as NSAIDs) are not safe for the kidneys. Some of the most common medicines for acute and chronic gout should be adjusted or avoided when you have kidney disease. Learn more about the medicines for gout here.

Is uric acid related to kidney or liver?

When you have gout, you have too much uric acid in your blood. As your blood is filtered through your kidneys, uric acid can build up and form urate crystals. As the urate crystals pass through your kidneys, they can cause damage and scars. This kidney damage is thought to lead to kidney disease and failure over time, especially if your gout is left untreated.

NSAIDs, some of the most common pain relieving medicines for gout, can also lead to kidney disease over time. Talk to your doctor about how to manage your use of NSAIDs.

When you have both gout and kidney disease, treating gout can be difficult because some medicines (such as NSAIDs) are not safe for the kidneys. Some of the most common medicines for acute and chronic gout should be adjusted or avoided when you have kidney disease. Learn more about the medicines for gout here.

What can falsely elevate liver enzymes?

Common causes of elevated liver enzymes include: Nonprescription pain medicines, particularly acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). Certain prescription medicines, including statins, which are used to control cholesterol. Drinking alcohol.

Why is my ALT high but everything else normal?

High levels of ALT in your blood may be a sign of a liver injury or disease. Some types of liver disease cause high ALT levels before you have symptoms of the disease. So, an ALT blood test may help diagnose certain liver diseases early.

What is an ALT Blood Test?. An ALT test measures the amount of ALT in your blood. This test is commonly used to help diagnose liver damage or disease.

ALT (alanine transaminase) is an enzyme, a protein that speeds up certain chemical reactions in your body. It is found mainly in your liver. Usually, you will have low levels of ALT in your blood. But when liver cells are damaged, they release ALT into the bloodstream. High levels of ALT in your blood may be a sign of a liver injury or disease. Some types of liver disease cause high ALT levels even before you have symptoms of the disease. So, an ALT blood test may help diagnose certain liver diseases early, when they may be easier to treat.

An ALT test is usually ordered as part of a group of liver function tests.