[Uptake of 2-C14 urate by erythrocytes in hyperuricemia and in gout (author's transl)].

The uptake of 2-C14 urate by erythrocytes was measured in 19 patients with primary hyperuricemia, 6 patients with secondary hyperuricemia, 17 patients with primary gout and 30 controls. The uptake of urate in patients with primary gout was significantly lower than in the controls. In contrast no such difference could be observed in patients with primary and secondary hyperuricemia. The uptake of labeled urate by erythrocytes from gouty patients is especially diminished in the early phase of the uptake kinetics. The possible relevance of this finding for the pathogenesis of urate precipitation in gout is discussed. Further, we consider the application of the tracer urate uptake by erythrocytes as an aid in the early diagnosis of gout.