Patient/caregiver was educated on secondary hyperuricemia as follows:

Elevated uric acid levels in the blood is called hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia in the body can be due to the following reasons –

Secondary hyperuricemia

• Secondary hyperuricemia is due to increased levels of uric acid in the body, due to reasons other than increased protein consumption.
• This condition can be due various factors 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 secondary hyperuricemia.
• 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 secondary hyperuricemia.
• Compromised renal function:
  • Uric acid produced in the body is soluble in water, dissolved in body fluids, and is ultimately excreted in the urine.
  • Kidneys must be optimally functioning to be able to excrete the uric acid produced.
  • Individuals in renal failure and other compromised states of renal function cannot excrete all the uric acid in urine, resulting in progressively increased retention of uric acid in the body and secondary hyperuricemia.