Understand your uric acid.

Uric acid is central to gout, but a single number does not tell the whole story.

What is uric acid?

Uric acid is a waste product created when the body breaks down purines. Most leaves the body through the kidneys.

What level is considered high?

Reference ranges vary. In people being treated for gout, clinicians commonly discuss a serum urate target below 6 mg/dL, with lower targets sometimes considered in more severe disease.

Can uric acid be normal during a flare?

Yes. A serum urate measurement taken during an acute flare can sometimes be misleading, which is one reason diagnosis should not rely on a single value alone.

Questions to ask your clinician

• What serum urate target is appropriate for me?
• How often should I be tested?
• Do any of my medications affect uric acid?
• Could kidney function be contributing?