Hyperuricemia

My patient today is my uncle who just came from Italy. He is complaining of pain in his right elbow which he felt upon waking up in the morning. He called me up and asked for medication. I only prescribed an analgesic thinking that it was only ordinary muscle pain. He said that the pain subsided with the medication I gave but still he could not move his right arm that's why he came to our clinic.

We examined his blood uric acid levels and the result showed hyperuricemia (increased blood uric acid levels). I think it's not surprising because he looks overweight. Maybe upon arrival to the Philippines he ask some friends for a gathering around the table with some beer and pulutan. Being away also made him miss common food products in Pangasinan like tuyo, bagoong, alamang, sitaw, sardines, and all-time favorites like dinuguan. These foods are high in purines. Eating them form the waste product called uric acid which dissolves in the blood. If untreated this may lead to the condition called gout. It can also lead to deposition of this substance in soft tissues forming tophi or in the kidneys and urinary tract forming stones.It can also be caused by certain medications like antihypertensive medicines which my uncle is also taking.

We advised him about his condition. After taking some medications for his high uric acid levels and together with some lifestyle changes he can now move his right arm. I advised him on what he will do whenever he feels the same thing all over again.

Let us not forget that too much of everything is bad and that self-discipline counts a lot. A high blood uric acid level also contributes to increased risk of heart disease.