Uric acid and the vasculature.

Hyperuricemia is a frequent finding in diseases in which the clinical manifestations are thought to be secondary to a state of generalized vascular endothelial dysfunction and related to the cardiovascular disease present in conditions associated with the metabolic syndrome, such as hypertension or diabetes. Traditionally, uric acid has not been given an active role in the pathologic process underlying these conditions. However, there is now a growing body of experimental and clinical evidence that points to a mechanistic role for uric acid in cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms that are most often thought to link uric acid and endothelial dysfunction involve inflammation and generation of oxidative stress in the vasculature. These observations allowed new clinical applications and formulations of therapies, such as the introduction of xanthine oxidase inhibitors in the management of congestive heart failure.