Is Blood Test For Gout Reliable Can I Diagnose Without Blood Test
A blood test is occasionally performed to measure the uric acid content in the blood and to detect hyperuricemia. While it can help identify uric acid levels, it is not always reliable in confirming the diagnosis of gout. You can be diagnosed without a blood test and have other tests performed that will provide more reliable results.
When To Get Tested
When you have joint pain or other symptoms that your healthcare practitioner suspects may be due to gout when you have had or are going to have certain chemotherapy or radiation therapies for cancer when you have recurrent kidney stones when you have gout or are otherwise at risk for kidney stone formation
What Is A Uric Acid Urine Test
A uric acid urine test is a test that checks how much uric acid is in your pee.
Your body makes uric acid when it breaks down purines, which are chemicals in your body tissues and in many foods and drinks like liver, anchovies, sardines, dried beans, and beer.
Uric acid usually dissolves in the blood, passes through your kidneys, and leaves your body when you pee. But sometimes, too much of this acid stays in your body. Either your kidneys canât get rid of enough of it, or your body is making too much.
High uric acid can cause health problems.
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What To Think About
- Having a high uric acid level doesn’t always mean you have gout. You won’t need treatment as long as you don’t have symptoms.
- If you have kidney disease or have had a problem with kidney stones, your doctor may start treatment with a medicine, such as allopurinol, even if your uric acid levels are not too high.
- A person with tophi or uric acid kidney stones will be treated for high uric acid levels no matter what the results of the uric acid test are.
- Uric acid also may be measured in blood. To learn more, see the topic Uric Acid in Blood.
What Do Test Results Mean
If a test comes back showing that concentrations are greater than 7.0 mg/dl in males and 6.0 mg/dl in females, uric acid levels are too high and the person has hyperuricemia.
Similarly, if the results show that uric acid concentrations are lower than the healthy ranges discussed above, the personâs uric acid levels are too low.
A doctor will be able to discuss further steps if treatment is necessary.
Conditions that develop from high or low uric acid levels are mostly treatable, but they are important to diagnose.
Without proper identification and management, these conditions can be life-threatening.
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What Are The Common Side Effects Of Alpha Lipoic Acid
Urine smell is one of the most common side effects of ALA. Nausea and skin rashes are also common side effects. However, if you experience any dizziness, extra hunger, irritability, weakness, confusion, sweating, extreme headaches, jittery feeling, or a noticeably faster heartbeat, you should immediately seek medical attention.
Good luck friends and were so happy to solve the burning question of why your pee smells! BUT REMEMBERif you also have burning with that burning question, please see your doctor right away.
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Kidneys Urine And Gout
The kidneys are responsible for keeping uric acid blood levels within the normal range. However, if they do not excrete enough uric acid through urine, the end result is elevated uric acid levels in the blood leading to gout attacks.
In fact, 90% of elevated uric acid blood levels are due to impaired kidney function, and only 10% is related to dietary purine consumption.
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What Does The Test Result Mean
BloodHigher than normal uric acid levels in the blood is called hyperuricemia and can be caused by producing too much uric acid in the body or the inability of the kidneys to adequately remove enough uric acid from the body. Further investigation is needed to determine the cause of the overproduction or decreased elimination of uric acid.
There are several genetic inborn errors that affect the break-down of purines. Cancer that has spread from its original location , multiple myeloma, leukemias, and cancer chemotherapy can cause increased production of uric acid. Chronic kidney disease, acidosis, toxemia of pregnancy, and alcoholism can cause decreased elimination of uric acid.
Increased concentrations of uric acid can cause crystals to form in the joints, which can lead to the joint inflammation and pain characteristic of gout. Uric acid can also form crystals or kidney stones that can damage the kidneys.
The American College of Rheumatology published guidelines on the management of gout in 2012 that recommend that target uric acid levels should be below 6 mg/dL for people diagnosed with the condition.
UrineHigh uric acid levels in the urine are seen with gout, multiple myeloma, metastatic cancer, leukemia, and a diet high in purines. Those at risk of kidney stones who have high uric acid levels in their urine may be given medication to prevent stone formation.
Low urine uric acid levels may be seen with kidney disease, chronic alcohol use, and lead poisoning.
My Uric Acid Level Is High But I Don’t Have Gout What Does This Mean
Not everyone who has high uric acid gets gout. High levels of uric acid in the blood do not always lead to symptoms. This condition, called asymptomatic hyperuricemia, is fairly common. It is generally thought that this condition does not require any follow up or treatment unless the affected person is at a high risk of complications. People with family members who have had gout, kidney stones or kidney disease due to hyperuricemia may receive treatment even though they are not experiencing symptoms.
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Uric Acid Test Procedure
Unlike other urine tests, this procedure takes a whole day. Your doctor wants whatâs called a 24-hour collection.
Hereâs what to do:
Keep the container in the fridge between bathroom visits. After youâre done, take it to the lab. The name of the lab will be included in your doctorâs instructions.
Health care professionals can also check your urine acid levels with a blood test.
What Happens During A Uric Acid Test
A uric acid test can be done as a blood test or a urine test.
During a blood test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
For a uric acid urine test, you’ll need to collect all urine passed in a 24-hour period. This is called a 24-hour urine sample test. Your health care provider or a laboratory professional will give you a container to collect your urine and instructions on how to collect and store your samples. A 24-hour urine sample test generally includes the following steps:
- Empty your bladder in the morning and flush that urine away. Record the time.
- For the next 24 hours, save all your urine passed in the container provided.
- Store your urine container in the refrigerator or a cooler with ice.
- Return the sample container to your health provider’s office or the laboratory as instructed.
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What Is Being Tested
Uric acid is produced by the breakdown of purines. Purines are nitrogen-containing compounds found in the cells of the body, including our DNA. This test measures the level of uric acid in the blood or urine.
As cells get old and die, they break down, releasing purines into the blood. To a lesser extent, purines may come from the digestion of certain foods, such as liver, anchovies, mackerel, dried beans and peas and certain alcoholic drinks, primarily beer. Most uric acid is removed from the body by the kidneys and is eliminated from the body in the urine, with the remainder eliminated in the stool.
If too much uric acid is produced or not enough is removed, it can accumulate in the body, causing increased levels in the blood . The presence of excess uric acid can cause gout, a condition characterized by inflammation of the joints due to the formation of uric acid crystals in the joint fluid. Excess uric acid can also be deposited in tissues such as the kidney, leading to kidney stones or kidney failure.
The build-up of too much uric acid in the body can be due to producing too much, not eliminating enough, or a combination of both. Elevated levels of uric acid can occur when there is an increase in cell death, as seen with some cancer therapies or, rarely, as an inherited tendency to produce too much uric acid. Decreased elimination of uric acid is often a result of impaired kidney function due to kidney disease.
How Long Will I Take It For
If youre taking nitrofurantoin to:
- treat a urinary tract infection, then you usually need to take it for 3 to 7 days
- stop urinary tract infections coming back, you may need to take it for several months
- prevent an infection before having surgery, youll usually need take it on the day of the operation and for the next 3 days
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Why Does My Pee Smell It Might Be Alpha Lipoic Acid
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Alpha lipoic acid, also widely known as ALA, is produced by our bodies in small amounts. This powerful and natural organic component acts as an antioxidant. In the first part of this article, we discussed the alpha lipoic acid dosage for peripheral neuropathy, its food sources, the essential role it plays for diabetic and neuropathic individuals, and its intake methods. Now, lets dig a little deeper into the topic in this installment. We know youre dying to know the answer to:
Does alpha lipoic acid make urine smell?
Hold your horses! Were getting there.
The recommended dosage of ALA is known to have extensive benefits such as revitalizing aging skin, lowering blood sugar levels, relieving diabetic nerve pain, and even reducing body weight. But as with every other over-the-counter treatment, alpha lipoic acid also comes with its reasonable share of side-effects. Along with side effects like anxious moods, headaches, and nausea, the most prominent one is abnormal urine smell.
Thats right, your pee stinks.
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When Is It Ordered
The uric acid blood test is ordered when a healthcare practitioner suspects that someone has a high uric acid level. Some people with high levels of uric acid have a disease called gout, which is a common form of arthritis. People with gout suffer from joint pain, most often in their toes, but in other joints as well. The test is also ordered when cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy to ensure that uric acid levels do not get dangerously high.
The urine uric acid test may be ordered when a person suffers from recurrent kidney stones or has gout and needs to be monitored for formation of these stones.
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Why Is A Uric Acid Urine Test Performed
Your doctor will usually recommend a uric acid urine test when youre showing symptoms of a medical condition that causes uric acid levels to rise.
An increased amount of uric acid in the urine often indicates gout, which is a common form of arthritis. This condition is characterized by severe pain and tenderness in the joints, especially those in the toes and ankles. Other symptoms of gout include:
- swelling in a joint
- reddened or discolored skin around a joint
- a joint thats hot to the touch
A high amount of uric acid in the urine can also be a sign of kidney stones. Kidney stones are solid masses made of crystals. The excess uric acid in the body causes the formation of these crystals in the urinary tract. The symptoms of kidney stones include:
- severe pain in the lower back
- chills
Your doctor may order a uric acid urine test to determine how well youre recovering from either kidney stones or gout. A uric acid urine test might also be used to monitor your condition if youre undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment. These treatments can lead to an accumulation of uric acid in the body.
What Causes Bad Smelling Urine With No Other Symptoms
Eating foods that are partially excreted through the urinary tract can change the smell of urine and cause bad smelling urine. Asparagus is a common culprit. Usually, foul-smelling urine is associated with infections and can happen in the absence of other symptoms. It may also present with bladder pain and possibly fever or chills. Dehydration and concentration of urine can also increase the intensity of the smell of urine.
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Getting Tested For Gout
Gout testing is ordered by a doctor or specialist when there are signs or symptoms consistent with gout. Gout testing may be performed during a flare of gout or based on a patients history of symptoms similar to gout.
A sample of synovial fluid can be obtained in a doctors office through a procedure called a joint aspiration or arthrocentesis. During a joint aspiration, a doctor uses a needle to withdraw a small sample of synovial fluid from the joint for analysis. If additional tests are needed to rule out other conditions, a blood sample can be drawn in a doctors office or other medical setting.
In some cases, uric acid testing may require a 24-hour urine sample. A 24-hour urine test requires that patients collect all of their urine produced over a 24-hour period.
Does Cbc Test For Uric Acid
If you have elevated uric acid levels, your clinician may need other tests to assess what is going on and see what might be causing your elevated uric acid. For example, depending on your symptoms and your other medical problems, you might need some of the following: Urine test for uric acid. Complete blood count
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Signs Your Doctor Will Look For
During your visit, your doctor will ask you to identify any and all symptoms you might have. Based on your response, they will determine whether or not they need to perform further testing or examinations to confirm a gout diagnosis. Some signs that your doctor will look for during your examination include:
- Over-production of uric acid
- Presence of uric acid crystals in joint fluid
- More than one attack of acute arthritis
- Arthritis that develops in a day and that produces a swollen, red, warm, inflamed joint
- Arthritis attack in only one joint, particularly the big toe, ankle or knee
Can These Diagnosis Find Out Tophus Gout
X-Ray and MRI examinations have proven useful in identifying tophi or tophus gout before the acid crystal deposits begin surfacing at the skin. You are concerned about developing tophi, ensure that you have made the necessary lifestyle changes to inhibit uric acid overproduction and ask your doctor for an X-Ray or MRI examination.
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What Abnormal Results Mean
A high uric acid level in the urine may be due to:
- Body not being able to process purine
Lesch-Nyhan
Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is a disorder that is passed down through families . It affects how the body builds and breaks down purines. Purine…
- Certain cancers that have spread
- Disease that results in breakdown of muscle fibers
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle tissue that leads to the release of muscle fiber contents into the blood. These substances are harmful to …
- Disorders that affect the bone marrow
- Disorder of the kidney tubes in which certain substances normally absorbed into the bloodstream by the kidneys are released into the urine instead
Fanconi syndrome
Fanconi syndrome is a disorder of the kidney tubes in which certain substances normally absorbed into the bloodstream by the kidneys are released int…
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- High-purine diet
A low uric acid level in the urine may be due to:
- Chronic kidney disease that impairs the kidneys’ ability to get rid of uric acid, which can lead to gout or kidney damage
- Kidneys that are not able to filter fluids and waste normally
Glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis is a type of kidney disease in which the part of your kidneys that helps filter waste and fluids from the blood is damaged….
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- Lead poisoning
Lead poisoning
Lead is a very strong poison. When a person swallows an object that has lead or breathes in lead dust, some of the poison can stay in the body and c…
How To Test & Diagnosis Gout
Gout can be difficult to diagnose due to its associated symptoms being vague and similar to other conditions. While recurring gout sufferers might know what to look out for or recognize when it comes to gout, a first time sufferer might not even know where to start. The best way to diagnose gout is by visiting your doctor who will have the tools and knowledge to properly exam you. If you are visiting your doctor to check for gout it’s best to be prepared so that you can ensure you get the most out of your visit.
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