Urinary Ammonium Excretion in Primary Gout*

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Abstract
The mean urinary ammonium excretion was significantly less in 97 gouty subjects apparently free of renal damage than in 46 normal subjects, at comparable urine pH over the range 4. 8-5. 6. Titratable acid conpensatorily increased in 24-hr urine samples but not after an overnight fast. The deficit in metabolic acid excretion rose in the gouty given ammonium chloride. The results imply a defect in renal production of ammonia in primary gout, which presumably contributes to the undue acidity of the urine and the strikingly high incidence of uric acid stone.