Patient/caregiver was educated on indications for low purine diet as follows:

• Cancers:
  • Various cancers in the body, such as, leukemia and lymphomas, result in production of defective cells that have a poor survival.
  • Cancer patients can thus have more cell turnover. Death of the defective cells and increased destruction of cellular proteins result in increased production of uric acid, leading to hyperuricemia with increased risk for gout & uric acid kidney stones.
  • Limiting purine intake for cancer patients can result in reduced uric acid production, reduced risk for uric acid renal stone formation, and reduced risk for gout activation, joint inflammation & damage.
• Chemo and radiation therapy:
  • Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can result in increased destruction to cells, with consequent cell death.
  • Death of the defective cells and increased destruction of cellular proteins in individuals undergoing chemo and radiation therapy result in increased production of uric acid, leading to hyperuricemia with increased risk for gout & uric acid kidney stones.
  • Limiting purine intake for patients undergoing chemo and radiation therapy can result in reduced uric acid production, reduced risk for uric acid renal stone formation, and reduced risk for gout activation, joint inflammation & damage.