[Hyperuricemia].

Hyperuricemia causes not only gout but also organ damage, such as through cerebrovascular, cardiovascular, and lifestyle-related diseases. The relationship between the serum urate(SUA)level and organ damage has recently been redefined as dysuricemia, as follows: 1)SUA level is positively associated with the occurrence of gout and intra-arterial gout(gout pattern); 2)occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases is negatively correlated with SUA level(ND pattern); and 3)the relationship between SUA level and chronic kidney disease(CKD)and cardiovascular disease(CVD)forms a J-shaped curve(CKD/CVD pattern). CVDs accompanied by dysuricemia include gout, ND, and CKD/CVD patterns; therefore, optimal SUA levels must be maintained to reduce organ damage. Thus, appropriate urate-lowering agents should be selected based on the type of hyperuricemia and prescribed for lowering the SUA levels toward the optimal value. Xanthine oxidase inhibitors are prescribed for hyperuricemic patients with renal overload and uricosuric agents for hyperuricemic patients with renal undersecretion.