Uric Acid Concentration
Uric acid concentration in the blood is the most important aspect of managing gout.
To manage gout properly, you must know your uric acid number, but you must also know what those numbers mean.
There are two common scales used to measure uric acid concentration. In the US, the most common scale is mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter). In Europe, the most common scale is mmol/L (millimoles per liter), and this SI unit is now the world standard in science, though mg/dL will continue in common use for some time. Occasionally, the standard scale is modified to µmol/L (micromoles per liter), which is one thousand times smaller.
To suit the common practice of most visitors, the GoutPal standard is to display mg/dL, with mmol/L in brackets.
I have included a uric acid calculator below to convert between the two main scales, but first, a few words about typical values.
Typical Uric Acid Concentration
There is a great deal of confusion surrounding uric acid numbers. We know that uric acid crystals normally form at 6.8mg/dL (0.4 mmol/L). Therefore, gout experts consider any value above this is to be high, though in practice, this is usually rounded to 7mg/dL[1] (the SI unit is already rounded at 0.4 mmol/L).
The first element of confusion arises from lab reports assigning the “normal” range to results as high as 8mg/dL. These are a result of sample averages that include gouty patients. You should never be satisfied with a descriptive result – insist on knowing your exact uric acid number.
Uric Acid Calculator
Use the calculator to convert uric acid concentrations from one scale to the other. This is useful for your own numbers, and numbers that you read in articles on GoutPal.com and around the Internet.
All you need to do is type your uric acid number into the appropriate box, then press Tab or click the Convert button. Results are rounded to a couple of decimal points, but do not get bogged down in too much precision. Uric acid levels fluctuate, so you should always consider that you are in a range that can easily fluctuate by 10% up or down.
Please note that this uric acid calculator relies on the molecular weight of uric acid, and it is not applicable to any other substance.
Next Uric Acid Concentration Steps
Now that you know the importance of your uric acid number, you should find out what it is as soon as you can. However you treat gout (medical or alternative therapies) you must get uric acid tested at least once per year. This is best done by your doctor, but home test kits are also available.
The Gout Help sections and the Understanding Gout sections are full of advice on how to manage uric acid levels and what the mean.
Leave Uric Acid Concentration to consult the Uric Acid Levels Chart
Uric Acid Concentration References
- Krishnan E, Kwoh CK, Schumacher HR, Kuller L. Hyperuricemia and incidence of hypertension among men without metabolic syndrome. Hypertension. 2007;49(2):298-303. Hyperuricemia and Hypertension full report
Tags: Uric Acid, uric acid concentration, uric acid l