Men: 3.5 to 7.2 mg/dl
Women: 2.6 to 6.0 mg/dl
Children: 2.5 to 5 mg/dl
In the International System of Units (SI), uric acid in the blood is measured in nmol/L. The normal uric acid level in the SI is:
Men: 208 to 428 nmol/l
Women: 155 to 357 nmol/l
Children: 149 to 297 nmol/l
Each laboratory must establish its own normal ranges for uric acid in the blood. These ranges depend on the makeup of the local population, the technologies used and the accuracy of the measurement. There may be also slight differences in the normal levels according to age, gender, race or ethnic origin, geographic region, diet, type of sample and other relevant status.
Your doctor will study the results along with your medical record, screenings, physical condition, symptoms and any other relevant information about your situation.
Uric acid is the final product of purine metabolism. Purines are nitrogen compounds found in protein foods. Purines, once synthetized, are converted into uric acid. Uric acid is present in the blood with antioxidant activity.
Uric acid is excreted in the urine after being filtrated in the kidneys.
The balance between the production and the excretion of uric acid establishes the level of uric acid in the blood.
Uric acid can be measured in the blood or in the urine. The uric acid blood test is more common. When there is a tissue damage, the level of uric acid in urine increases.
The uric acid blood test is useful to prevent the accumulation of uric acid in the joints. The accumulation of uric acid in the joints may cause gout, an inflammatory disease resulting in severe pain. In addition, the uric acid blood test gives information about the state of the kidneys and the presence of kidney stones. Finally, it can be a help to diagnose other diseases such as some types of cancer and blood disorders.
The main reasons why the uric acid in the blood can be elevated are:
In both cases, uric acid crystals are accumulate in the joints causing gout. Gout is a painful inflammation of the joints. Gout usually affects the joints towards the ends of the limbs, such as the toes, ankles, knees and fingers.
Another amount of the uric acid crystals will be excreted in the urine. The excess of crystals may produce stones and renal colic.
The uric acid level in the blood can lower than normal if there is a kidney disorder and urinary excretion is increases or in a case of a low-purine diet.
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The following values are considered to be normal values:
IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in mg/dl They are an example of a healthy man of about 45 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.
Uric acid | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normality | |||||||
| 3.5 mg/dl | 3.6 mg/dl | 3.7 mg/dl | 3.8 mg/dl | 3.9 mg/dl | 4 mg/dl | 4.1 mg/dl | 4.2 mg/dl |
| 4.3 mg/dl | 4.4 mg/dl | 4.5 mg/dl | 4.6 mg/dl | 4.7 mg/dl | 4.8 mg/dl | 4.9 mg/dl | 5 mg/dl |
| 5.1 mg/dl | 5.2 mg/dl | 5.3 mg/dl | 5.4 mg/dl | 5.5 mg/dl | 5.6 mg/dl | 5.7 mg/dl | 5.8 mg/dl |
| 5.9 mg/dl | 6 mg/dl | 6.1 mg/dl | 6.2 mg/dl | 6.3 mg/dl | 6.4 mg/dl | 6.5 mg/dl | 6.6 mg/dl |
| 6.7 mg/dl | 6.8 mg/dl | 6.9 mg/dl | 7 mg/dl | 7.1 mg/dl | 7.2 mg/dl | ||
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