Uric acid: from a biological advantage to a potential danger. A focus on cardiovascular effects

• Published in: Vascular pharmacology Vol. 120; p. 106565
• Main Authors: Cortese, Francesca, Giordano, Paola, Scicchitano, Pietro, Faienza, Maria Felicia, De Pergola, Giovanni, Calculli, Giacinto, Meliota, Giovanni, Ciccone, Marco Matteo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-09-2019; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Atherosclerosis; Biomarkers - blood; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnosis; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Gout Suppressants - therapeutic use; Hazards; Health risk assessment; Health risks; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypertension; Hyperuricemia; Hyperuricemia - blood; Hyperuricemia - diagnosis; Hyperuricemia - epidemiology; Hyperuricemia - therapy; Infectious diseases; Inflammation; Mutation; Oxidative stress; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Risk management; Risk Reduction Behavior; Smoking; Urate Oxidase - genetics; Urate Oxidase - metabolism; Uric acid; Uric Acid - blood; CRP; RR; Oxidative stress; NO; OR; AMP; AF; CI; CAD; Cardiovascular disease; Inflammation; HR; Uric acid; RAGE; UA; BP; c-IMT; CV; Atherosclerosis; VSMC; FMD; HF; SUA
• ISSN: 1537-1891; 1879-3649
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2019.106565

Non-communicable diseases represent nowadays the most common cause of death worldwide, having largely overcome infectious diseases. Among them, cardiovascular diseases constitute the majority.
Given these premise, great efforts have been made by scientific societies to emphasize the fundamental role of cardiovascular prevention and risk factors control. In addition to classical cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and male gender, new risk factors are emerging from international literature. Among them, uric acid is the protagonist. Several evidences show a direct role of hyperuricemia in the determinism of metabolic and vascular disorders. From the other hand, some researchers have demonstrated that uric acid is only a marker of cardiovascular damage and not a risk factor for its development.
Aim of this review is to evaluate the scientific evidences on the role of uric acid in cardiovascular diseases in order to shed light on this confusing topic.
Abbreviations: MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; VSMC: vascular smooth muscle cells; ROS: reactive oxygen species; NO: nitric oxide; HMGB1: high mobility group box chromosomal protein 1; RAGE: receptor for advanced glycation end products; RAAS: renin angiotensin aldosterone system. [Display omitted]