Hypouricemia and an Increased Clearance of Uric Acid are Observed in Liver Diseases

Hypouricemia has been noted in patients with hepatocellular disease.1–5 The hypouricemia may be chiefly due to induced tubular defects but reduced production may also play a role. In the presence of liver disease either a uricemic substance (perhaps bilirubin) accumulates or a substance that enhances uric acid reabsorption is not produced. The purpose of the present paper was to determine the prevalence of low serum urate levels in liver diseases and to evaluate which degree of hepatocellular damage should be present in order to observe this metabolic alteration.