Serum uric acid in children and adolescents

ABSTRACT Introduction: Uric acid (UrA) is a product of purine catabolism, and hyperuricemia (hUrA) is associated with risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases. Objective: To evaluate the concentration of UrA in children and adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 623 eutrophic students (5 to 15 years old, aged 9.9 ± 2.7 years, 52% girls). Blood was collected (fasting 12-14 h) for analysis of laboratory parameters, and blood pressure and anthropometric measures were verified. UrA was stratified according to sex and age ranges (5 to < 10, ≥ 10 to < 13 and ≥ 13 to 15 years, male; and 5 to < 9, ≥ 9 to < 12 and ≥ 12 to 15 years, female), and the percentiles 2.5 (2.5th) and 97.5 (97.5th) were calculated. Results: The mean UrA was 3.7 ± 1.03 mg/dl (boys) and 3.58 ± 0.91 mg/dl (girls) (p = 0.0113). Considering the age ranges, the mean UrA was increasing and higher for boys (p = 0.0024, for the 3rd age range). For girls, the UrA increased progressively and significantly in the age ranges (p ≤ 0.005). According to the 97.5th, there was statistical difference only in the third range between sexes (p = 0.002). For comparisons between age ranges, UrA 97.5th also increased for boys and girls (p ≤ 0.05). According to the 97.5th, 26 students presented hUrA. Conclusion: According to the results, stratification by age ranges and sex, in addition to the 97.5th as concentration threshold, was important for evaluation of serum levels of UrA in children and adolescents.