Uric acid participating in female reproductive disorders: a review

Abstract

Uric acid (UA) is the end metabolic product of purine metabolism. Early on, UA was considered to be a metabolite with a certain antioxidant capacity. As research has progressed, other properties of UA have been explored, and its association with many diseases has been found. The association between UA and kidney disease and cardiovascular disease is well established; however, there is still a paucity of reviews on the association between UA and the female reproductive system. An increasing number of epidemiological studies have shown elevated serum UA levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, etc. Additionally, serum UA can be used as a predictor of pregnancy complications and adverse foetal outcomes. An increasing number of animal experiments and clinical studies have revealed possible mechanisms related to the involvement of UA in certain female reproductive disorders: oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, etc. This article reviews the current mainstream mechanisms regarding the pathogenesis of UA and the role of UA in certain specific female reproductive disorders (direct involvement in the development of certain diseases or enhancement of other risk factors) in the hope of contributing to clinical prevention, diagnosis, treatment and improvement in prognosis.

Uric Acid and Oxidative Stress—Relationship with Cardiovascular, Metabolic, and Renal Impairment

“…Other potential beneficial therapies: Estradiol and Losartan are also URAT1 and GLUT9 inhibitors, whereas Fenofibrate acts only through URAT1 inhibition [ 99 ]. Despite higher prevalence of CKD in women, a recent study from nationwide Swedish Renal Registry—CKD evidenced that males are prone to a higher eGFR decline.…”

Neck Circumference Is Associated With Hyperuricemia in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

“…Uric acid is a metabolite produced during purine metabolism, and elevated serum uric acid levels have been demonstrated as a risk factor of metabolic disorders, including hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases ( 6 ). In addition to the effect on metabolism, recent review suggests that there is a close relationship between serum levels of uric acid and female reproductive disorders ( 7 ). Previously, our study demonstrated that the prevalence of hyperuricemia in the PCOS population was almost threefold higher than that in women without PCOS ( 8 ).…”

The diagnostic potential of oxidative stress biomarkers for preeclampsia: systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Several studies reported increased UA in early gestation in women who proceeded to develop preeclampsia [ 3 , 6 , 15 , 44 ], suggesting its potentially useful predictive biomarker utility, which was not investigated in this meta-analysis. There are multiple sources of elevated UA in women with preeclampsia and it has been suggested that UA could be involved in its pathogenesis [ 46 , 47 ]. Elevated UA affects placental and vascular health in pregnancy through the generation of oxidative stress and inflammation leading to preeclampsia [ 45 – 47 ].…”

“…There are multiple sources of elevated UA in women with preeclampsia and it has been suggested that UA could be involved in its pathogenesis [ 46 , 47 ]. Elevated UA affects placental and vascular health in pregnancy through the generation of oxidative stress and inflammation leading to preeclampsia [ 45 – 47 ]. Also, UA contributes to inappropriate vascular remodeling of the placental bed, which impedes trophoblast invasion [ 46 ].…”

“…UA is an important marker in diagnosing various conditions associated with higher levels including preeclampsia. In our meta-analysis, UA emerged as a useful biomarker for diagnosing preeclampsia based on the published pooled data [ 3 , 6 , 15 ], and the pathophysiology of preeclampsia is closely associated with increased abundance of UA in maternal–fetal/placental tissues in women with preeclampsia [ 44 – 47 ]. However, increased levels of UA (and creatinine) were reported in other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy questioning its specificity [ 15 ].…”