Association of hyperuricemia and gamma glutamyl transferase as a marker of metabolic risk in alcohol use disorder

Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 18;10(1):20060. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-77013-1.

Abstract

Excessive alcohol consumption leads to overproduction of urates and renal function plays a critical role in serum uric acid levels. We aimed to assess associations of hyperuricemia in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and comparable Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR). A total of 686 patients undergoing treatment for AUD between 2013 and 2017 were eligible (77% men); age at admission was 47 years [interquartile range (IQR), 40-53 years], age of onset of alcohol consumption was 16 years [IQR, 16-18 years] and the amount of alcohol consumed was 160 g/day [IQR, 120-240 g/day]. Body Mass Index was 24.7 kg/m2 [IQR, 21.9-28.4 kg/m2], eGFR was 105 mL/min/1.73 m2 [IQR, 95.7-113.0 mL], 9.7% had metabolic syndrome and 23% had advanced liver fibrosis (FIB-4 > 3.25). Prevalence of hyperuricemia was 12.5%. The eGFR-adjusted multivariate analysis showed that relative to patients with GGT ≤ 50, those with GGT between 51 and 300 U/L and those with GGT > 300 U/L were 4.31 (95% CI 1.62-11.46) and 10.3 (95% CI 3.50-29.90) times more likely to have hyperuricemia, respectively. Our data shows that hyperuricemia in the context of AUD is strongly associated with serum GGT levels and suggest an increased cardio-metabolic risk in this population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / physiopathology*
  • Biomarkers / analysis*
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate
  • Humans
  • Hyperuricemia / complications*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / blood
  • Liver Cirrhosis / diagnosis*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / epidemiology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / etiology
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome / blood
  • Metabolic Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Metabolic Syndrome / etiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Uric Acid / blood*
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase / blood*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Uric Acid
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase
  • gamma-glutamyltransferase, human