Serum uric acid levels measured during an acute gout flare may be falsely normal.

the verdict

SUPPORTED

the evidence backs this

Recorded sources

2 sources for · 0 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Is it true that serum uric acid levels measured during an acute gout flare may be falsely normal?

Yes. Serum uric acid levels measured during an acute gout flare are frequently normal or lower than baseline due to increased renal excretion, meaning a normal reading does not rule out an acute gouty attack.

Verdict: SUPPORTED · 2 sources for, 0 against · Last checked 4 Aug 2026

The analysis

The retrieved literature clearly supports the claim that serum uric acid levels can be falsely normal or significantly lower during an acute gout attack. Paper [4] demonstrates that a substantial percentage of patients present with normal serum urate levels during acute flares. Paper [9] confirms prospectively that serum uric acid levels drop significantly during an acute flare compared to the remission stage due to upregulated urinary excretion. No papers refute this well-established clinical phenomenon.

Evidence for · 2

Serum Urate During Acute Gout

2009

This study of acute gout trials found that 14% of patients had a true normal serum urate level and nearly a third had levels below the saturation threshold during an acute attack, confirming that normal levels do not rule out gout.

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SCHLESINGER, N., NORQUIST, J. M., & WATSON, D. J. (2009). Serum Urate During Acute Gout. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.080938

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More for · 1

Changes of serum uric acid level during acute gout flare and related factors

2023

This prospective study demonstrated that serum uric acid levels are significantly lower during an acute gout flare than during the subsequent remission stage due to increased urinary excretion.

Get citation

Zhang, J., Sun, W., Gao, F., Lu, J., Li, K., Xu, Y., Li, Y., Li, C., & Chen, Y. (2023). Changes of serum uric acid level during acute gout flare and related factors. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1077059

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Is it true that vitamin C supplementation increases blood uric acid levels? PARTIAL LEAN related question, same topic

Receipt History

first checked04 Aug 2026

judged → SUPPORTED · 8804 Aug 2026

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