Objective: Introduction: Hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for high-normal blood pressure (BP) both in men and women. The effect of uric acid (UA) on erythrocyte morphology in normotensive patients needs further study. The aim - to evaluate the impact of serum UA level on erythrocyte morphology in normotensive patients.
Patients and methods: Materials and methods: Patients were divided into two group according to the UA level: the first group - 38 patients with UA level < 400 mcmol/L; the second group - 42 patients with UA level ≥ 400 mcmol/L. Studies on erythrocyte morphology were conducted using cytological analysis and scanning electron microscopy.
Results: Results: Patients of the 1st group had poikilocytosis level of 4,6%, while type I echinocytes were 3,2%, type II echinocytes - 1,1%, stomatocytes - 1,3%. In the 2nd group, poikilocytosis exceeding 5% was observed in 12 patients with mean values of altered shapes of 12,8±1,2%. In the 2nd group, type I echinocytes was 6,2% (9,4±0,9%) more, type II echinocytes - 1,3% (2,4±0,5%) more, stomatocytes - 0,3% (1,0±0,2%) more. In the study correlation between UA and poikilocytosis was found: in the 1st group - r = +0,21 and in the second group - r = +0,42. In the 1st group, correlation between UA and BP was moderate for SBP - r = +0,34 and weak for DBP - r = +0,29; in the 2nd group: SBP - r = +0,49 and r = +0,35 for DBP.
Conclusion: Conclusions: Direct correlation between uric acid level and poikilocytosis level becomes more intensive when uric acid level exceeds ≥ 400 mcmol/L.
Keywords: erythrocyte morphology; normotensive patient; uric acid.