title: Hyperuricemia: A Biomarker of Renal Hemodynamic Impairment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many epidemiological, clinical, and experimental reports have demonstrated an association between serum uric acid concentration and a variety of cardiovascular and renal diseases, particularly in hypertension. At present, there seems to be no resolution to the question whether this relationship is causal or coincidental.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This discussion examines a number of biological, pathophysiological, fundamental, and clinical relationships between serum uric acid concentration and several of these disorders. To this end, discussion and review provide some specific insight conclusions and recommendations related to their clinical relevance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that, in most instances (especially in patients with essential hypertension), the increase in serum uric acid concentration is coincidental, serving as a useful biomarker that relates the magnitude of circulating plasma uric acid concentration with the extent of impaired cardiovascular and renal function. Moreover, the value of certain pharmaceutical agents affecting the serum uric acid level should be considered carefully by taking into consideration the associated pathophysiological derangements.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Research Laboratory, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, La., USA.
authors.forename: Dinko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Susic
authors.affiliation: Hypertension Research Laboratory, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, La., USA.
authors.forename: Edward D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Frohlich
keywords: Biomarker; Cardiovascular diseases; Hypertension; Intrarenal hemodynamics; Renal diseases; Serum uric acid concentration