title: Uric acid and hypertension: cause or effect?
abstract: Uric acid was first associated with primary hypertension in 1874, yet its role in this condition remains unclear. Historically, uric acid was thought to be a secondary response to hypertension or its associated conditions. However, more recent experimental and clinical studies suggest that uric acid could have a contributory role in the pathogenesis of elevated blood pressure. More studies are needed to help dissect the potential mechanisms by which uric acid could initiate this response. It remains possible that uric acid is a marker for xanthine oxidase-associated oxidants and that the latter could be driving the hypertensive response. However, the weight of the evidence suggests that uric acid is a true modifying and possibly causal factor for human primary hypertension. Hence, early management of hyperuricemia might delay the development of essential hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, University of Colorado-Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
authors.forename: Marilda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazzali
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanbay
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shafiu
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jalal
authors.forename: Daniel I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Feig
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000493:Allopurinol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D006074:Gout Suppressants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006074:Gout Suppressants; D014527:Uric Acid; D000493:Allopurinol