title: Uric acid: is it time to give up routine testing in management of pre-eclampsia?
abstract: Ever since it was first linked with the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia, uric acid has been a routine test requested by many care-givers managing pregnant women with hypertensive disease of pregnancy for almost 100 years. Existing evidence however suggests that it has no definitive role in prediction, diagnosis or management of pre-eclampsia. We argue against routine uric acid testing in pregnancies complicated by hypertension not only because it has become a fruitless academic exercise but also because ceasing its routine use will ensure cost-savings for the health services.
authors: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, St George's Hospital and Medical School , Cranmer Terrace, Tooting, London SW17 0RE.
authors: Vikram Sinai
authors: VS
authors: Talaulikar
authors: Maternal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, Surrey SM5 1AA; St George's Medical School, Blackshaw Road, London SW17 0QT, UK.
authors: Hassan
authors: H
authors: Shehata
keywords: gestational hypertension; investigations; pre-eclampsia; uric acid