Uric acid: is it time to give up routine testing in management of pre-eclampsia?

Abstract

Ever since it was first linked with the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia, uric acid has been a routine test requested by many care-givers managing pregnant women with hypertensive disease of pregnancy for almost 100 years. Existing evidence however suggests that it has no definitive role in prediction, diagnosis or management of pre-eclampsia. We argue against routine uric acid testing in pregnancies complicated by hypertension not only because it has become a fruitless academic exercise but also because ceasing its routine use will ensure cost-savings for the health services.