HYPERURICEMIA IN MYXEDEMA*

Abstract

Serum uric acid levels were determined in 28 myxedematous patients and compared to the levels in 7 hyperthyroid patients and 33 normal subjects. Urinary urate excretions were also measured in 18 patients and 24-hour uric acid excretion rates determined in 16. The data indicate that most of the myxedematous males and one-third of the myxedematous females had significant hyperuricemia. Postmenopausal women were the only females in the myxedematous group exhibiting hyperuricemia. Myxedematous patients of both sexes showed a decreased urinary excretion of urate and a decreased renal urate excretion rate as compared to hyperthyroid patients. Amounts of triiodothyronine or triiodothyropropionic acid which were sufficient to elevate the basal metabolic rate to normal in the myxedematous patients studied, caused a urate diuresis, an increase in the 24-hour urate excretion rate, and a decrease in the level of serum uric acid.