title: Association between endothelial dysfunction and hyperuricaemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We used high-resolution peripheral vascular ultrasound imaging to assess endothelial function in hyperuricaemic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hyperuricaemia was defined as a serum uric acid concentration of > 7.7 mg/dl in men or > 6.6 mg/dl in women. Measurements of endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and endothelium-independent nitroglycerin-mediated vasodilation were performed in 46 hyperuricaemic patients and an equal number of healthy age- and gender-matched normal controls by high-resolution two-dimensional ultrasonographic imaging of the brachial artery. The serum levels of glucose, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lipid profiles and high-sensitivity CRP were measured for both the study groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum uric acid levels averaged 9.24 (1.16) and 6.18 (0.99)  mg/dl in the hyperuricaemic and control groups, respectively. Body weight and BMI were significantly higher in the hyperuricaemic group than in the control group. The serum levels of creatinine, ALT, triglyceride and high-sensitivity CRP were significantly different between the two groups. The FMD values were significantly lower in the hyperuricaemic patients than in the controls [4.45% (3.13%) vs 7.10% (2.48%); P < 0.001]. The FMD values were negatively associated with serum uric acid levels (r = -0.273; P = 0.009). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the presence of hyperuricaemia (β = -0.384; P < 0.001) and body weight (β = 0.215; P = 0.017) were independent determinants of low FMD values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperuricaemia is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Decreased nitric oxide bioavailability may be the main reason.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, First Cardiovascular Division, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Tao-Yuan,Taiwan. auditory@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Wan-Jing
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Wen-Pin
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Kuang-Hui
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Pei-Kwei
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Tsay
authors.forename: Chun-Li
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tsu-Shiu
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chi-Tai
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014527:Uric Acid