What symptoms can high uric acid levels cause?

Purine is a compound that naturally exists in the human body, primarily involved in energy metabolism. When the production or elimination of purine in the body becomes imbalanced, it can lead to elevated levels of uric acid in the blood, a condition known as hyperuricemia. Long-term hyperuricemia can trigger a range of health problems, with common symptoms and diseases including:

1. Gout: This is one of the common symptoms of high purine levels. When purine metabolism is abnormal and uric acid levels rise, urate crystals can deposit in the joints, causing redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the joints. This may even lead to joint deformity and enlargement, significantly affecting the patient's quality of life.

2. Arthritis: In addition to gouty arthritis, high uric acid levels may cause other types of arthritis, such as chronic gouty arthritis, characterized by long-term inflammation and damage to the joints.

3. Kidney disease: Purines are primarily excreted through the kidneys. High purine levels can lead to uric acid deposition in the kidneys, forming kidney stones, and may also cause kidney diseases such as nephritis. After kidney damage, patients may experience symptoms such as hematuria, proteinuria, waist or abdominal pain, edema, and elevated blood pressure.

4. Cardiovascular disease: A high-purine diet may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and coronary artery atherosclerotic heart disease. This is because high-purine foods often contain higher levels of fat and cholesterol, which may accelerate atherosclerosis.

Patients with high purine levels should seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying causes, and undergo standardized treatment under a doctor's guidance. At the same time, patients should also pay attention to adjusting their diet, reducing the intake of high-purine foods, to lower uric acid levels and alleviate symptoms.