title: Serum uric acid levels and cardiovascular disease: the Gordian knot.
abstract: Hyperuricemia is defined as serum uric acid level of more than 7 mg/dL and blood levels of uric acid are causally associated with gout, as implicated by evidence from randomized clinical trials using urate lowering therapies. Uric acid as a cardiovascular risk factor often accompanies metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, chronic renal disease, and obesity. Despite the association of hyperuricemia with cardiovascular risk factors, it has remained controversial as to whether uric acid is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease. To settle this issue, and in the absence of large randomized controlled trials, Mendelian randomization analysis in which the exposure is defined based on the presence or absence of a specific allele that influences a risk factor of interest have tried to shed light on this.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Service, Insular-Materno Infantil University Hospital, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Efrén
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez-Quintana
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Insular-Materno Infantil University Hospital, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tugores
authors.affiliation: Dr. Negrín University Hospital of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Fayna
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-González
keywords: Hyperuricemia; cardiovascular risk factors; coronary artery disease; mendelian randomization