Serum urate as a soluble biomarker in chronic gout-evidence that serum urate fulfills the OMERACT validation criteria for soluble biomarkers.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether serum urate (SU) fulfills the Outcome measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) soluble biomarker criteria.


METHODS
The OMERACT soluble biomarker criteria were adapted for use in chronic gout. Potential outcome measures for use in chronic gout were identified. The literature was reviewed to determine which of the potential outcome measures were appropriate and whether there was evidence within the current literature to fulfill the OMERACT biomarker criteria.


RESULTS
The assay for measurement of SU is reliable, internationally standardized, and readily accessible for use in clinical practice. The effects of sources of variability, including age, sex, ethnicity, circadian rhythms, body mass index, renal/hepatic function, and fasting, are well documented. Tophus regression was identified as appropriate structural outcome measure; however, given that not all patients have clinically apparent tophi, the number of gout flares is also identified as a key outcome measure.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum urate fulfills all the OMERACT biomarker criteria with the exception of its effects on outcome measures. Further analysis of existing and new data sets to determine whether a reduction in SU predicts a reduction in gout flares, the number/size of tophi, and patient reported outcomes using validated measures for these outcomes are required.
Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand. lisa.stamp@cdhb.govt.nz
Lisa K
LK
Stamp
Xiaoyu
X
Zhu
Nicola
N
Dalbeth
Sarah
S
Jordan
N Lawrence
NL
Edwards
William
W
Taylor
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D023381:Endpoint Determination / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006073:Gout / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014527:Uric Acid