Hyperuricemia in patients with pulmonary hypertension: A study in a tertiary care center

Abstract

Pulmonary Hypertension is one of a life-threatening disease with high rate of patient mortality. Decreased cardiac output and tissue hypoxia is measured using Uric acid as a marker for assessment of pulmonary hypertension. 75 patients who were diagnosed with a mean pulmonary arterial pressure of >22mmHg were categorized as group A and 75 healthy patients were considered to be Group B. Blood was collected for Uric acid, creatinine and total Bilirubin estimation. Pulmonary arterial systolic pressure as well as the ventricular function of the patients was evaluated using Colour Doppler ECG and a value of ≥50 mmHg, or a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (at rest) of ≥25 mmHg was taken and the right arterial pressure was calculated. Using the Simpson’s formula, the right and left ventricular ejaculation factors (RVEF, LVEF) were calculated. The serum uric acid levels among the patients were 8.3±1.4mg/dL, creatinine levels were 2.1 ± 0.5 mg/dL, and the total bilirubin levels were 1.9 ± 0.8 mg/dL all of which was significantly higher than the controls. The uric acid levels were also positively correlated to the NHYA class. The blood pressure and the pulmonary arterial pressure were also higher than that of the controls. The correlation was done between the elevated uric acid and ejection fractions and the correlation coefficients of MPAP, LVEF, RVEF and the NYHA class were all significantly associated and the values were 0.394, -0.513, -0.467 and 0.38 respectively. High serum uric acid levels is significantly associated with higher blood pressure, pulmonary arterial pressure and NYHA class. High serum uric acid levels can be a reliable prognostic marker for the detection of pulmonary hypertension. Early therapy may help in the reduction of mortality rate.