Genetics of hyperuricemia and gout: Insights from recent genome-wide association studies and Mendelian randomization studies

Yu-Lin Ko

doi:10.4103/tcmj.tcmj_117_21

Genetics of hyperuricemia and gout: Insights from recent genome-wide association studies and Mendelian randomization studies

Tzu Chi Med J. 2021 Nov 24;34(3):261-269. doi: 10.4103/tcmj.tcmj_117_21. eCollection 2022 Jul-Sep.

Author

Yu-Lin Ko^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Cardiovascular Center and Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei, Taiwan.
² School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
³ Department of Research, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei, Taiwan.

Abstract

Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis in adults. Elevation serum uric acid (SUA) concentration is known to be the key to gout pathogenesis. Since the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) for SUA was performed in 2007, the number of gene loci known to be associated with hyperuricemia and gout has grown rapidly. GWASs and Mendelian randomization studies have also reported numerous novel results regarding the genetics of hyperuricemia and gout since 2018. We concisely review recent advances in scholarship on the effects of genetics on hyperuricemia and gout risk. We also review data from genetic association studies in Taiwan and perform GWASs of SUA levels among Taiwan Biobank participants.

Keywords: Genetics; Genome-wide association study; Gout; Hyperuricemia; Mendelian randomization study.

Publication types

Review