title: Hyperuricemia after exposure to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans near a highly contaminated area.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyperuricemia (too much uric acid in the blood) is the predisposing condition for gout and is associated with hypertriglyceridemia, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzo-furans (PCDD/Fs) cause renal toxicity and elevate uric acid. The aim of this analysis was to investigate and clarify the effect of moderate-to-high PCDD/F exposure on hyperuricemia risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 1531 healthy participants living near a deserted pentachlorophenol factory. We measured serum levels of 17 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs, and then examined associations between the main predictor variable, serum TEQ(DF-2005) (total PCDD/Fs 2005 World Health Organization [WHO] toxic equivalency [TEQ]), and dependent variables such as uric acid, glomerular filtration rates, and hyperuricemia risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a strong monotonic inverse relationship between serum TEQ(DF-2005) quartiles and the estimated glomerular filtration rate after adjusting for confounding factors (Men: β were 0, -4.7, -6.2, and -14.8; Women: β were 0, -6.7, -12.9, and -21.5). In addition, we observed a suggestive positive trend between serum TEQDF-2005 quartiles and uric acid only in men after adjusting for confounding factors (Men: β were 0, 0.40, 0.36, and 0.59; P for trend <0.05). Men with serum TEQ(DF-2005) higher than the reference group's (<7.4 pg WHO(2005)-TEQ(DF/g) lipid) had a higher hyperuricemia risk after adjusting for confounding factors (25th to <50th percentile, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.20 [95% confidence interval {CI} = 1.30-3.73]; 50th to <75th percentile, AOR = 1.86 [95% CI = 1.08-3.22]; ≥ 75th percentile, AOR = 3.00 [95% CI = 1.69-5.31]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that serum TEQ(DF-2005) is an important determinant of serum uric acid levels and heightens the risk of hyperuricemia in general populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jung-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Horng-Yih
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Hsiu-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Huey-Jen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Ching-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; C023614:dibenzofuran