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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffHigh uric acid levels can be caused by either overproduction of uric acid in the body or by decreased elimination of uric acid in the urine. Specifically, factors that may cause high uric acid concentration in your blood include:
- Diuretic medications, which are sometimes referred to as water pills
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Excessive caffeine consumption
- Family tendency (genetics)
- Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease)
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
- Leukemia
- Niacin, or vitamin B-3
- Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Obesity
- Psoriasis
- Purine-rich diet — organ meat, game meat, anchovies, herring, gravy, dried beans, dried peas and other foods
- Some immune-suppressing drugs
Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.
- Chemistry studies. In: Fischbach FT, et al. A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009. http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&NEWS=N&PAGE=booktext&D=books&AN=00140036/7th_Edition/11&XPATH=/OVIDBOOK%5B1%5D/METADATA%5B1%5D/TBY%5B1%5D/EDITORS%5B1%5D. Accessed July 12, 2010.
- Questions and answers about gout. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Gout/default.asp. Accessed July 12, 2010.
- Becker MA. Asymptomatic hyperuricemia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 12, 2010.
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