Generality
Amorphous urates are microscopic crystals that can be found in the urine.
The presence of these crystals in amorphous form indicates that the organism is unable to properly dissociate uric acid, with consequent risk of uric stones, gout and gouty attacks.
What's this
- Amorphous urates are small crystals that result from uric acid metabolism.
- Usually, these compounds are formed in the presence of large amounts of uric acid, a terminal product of purine metabolism.
- purines are nitrogenous bases introduced with the diet (exogenous) or synthesized by the organism (endogenous).
- Uric acid is a waste product of our body; it is formed by oxidation of purines by an enzyme called xanthine oxidase and is eliminated for two thirds by the kidney, and then excreted in the urine. The remainder is removed. through defecation, thanks to the bacteria present in the intestine, which provide for the splitting of this substance.
- In urine at pH 5.3, uric acid is found in the form of urate ion for half and as undissociated uric acid for the remainder. Small changes in pH are sufficient to influence the dissociation state of uric acid:
- If the urinary pH increases, the monosodium urate form prevails;
- If it decreases, the undissociated form prevails.
- In urine with acidic pH, therefore, monosodium urate remains poorly soluble and tends to precipitate, potentially giving rise to uratic calculi.
Because it is measured
The presence of amorphous urates is detected by urinalysis.
To understand the cause of any abnormalities, the doctor can evaluate the urine sample by combining the results with some blood values. In particular, to assess the degree of acidity of the urine it is necessary to measure the urinary pH.
