Uric Acid Metabolism in Hepatolenticular Degeneration.

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Abstract
In patients with hepatolenticular degeneration (Wilson''s disease) the uric acid in the serum is reduced and the amount excreted in the urine is increased. The mean serum uric acid level in 12 normal males was 6.0 mg %; in 11 normal females, 4.7 mg %; in 11 males with Wilson''s disease, 1.8 mg %; and in 5 females with the disease, 1,8 mg %. The urine uric acid-creatine ratio in normal subjects was 0.22 - 0.43, and in 5 patients with Wilson''s disease 0.53 - 0.90. Following the intravenous administration of uric acid, such patients excreted uric acid in the urine more rapidly than normal subjects. No correlation was observed between the excretion of Cu and uric acid. Alterations in uric acid metabolism are probably due to an inability of the renal tubules to reabsorb uric acid efficiently.