Since he liver is the central organ of uric acid metabolism, I investigated the utility of serum uric acid level as an indicator of the residual liver function and prediction of survival in patients with liver cirrhosis.

I measured the liver function test including uric acid level in the patients with chronic liver disease(41 patients with chronic hepatitis and 66 patients with liver cirrhosis). The serum uric acid level was analyzed for prognostic value.

The serum uric acid level was significant decreased in patients with Child-Pugh class B and C group(group III) compared with Child-Pugh class A(group II) or chronic hepatitis(group I)(p<0.001). There was no difference of the level of uric acid between alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhotic patients(p=0.09). The serum uric acid level was correlated inversely with serum bilirubin level in patients with cirrhosis. The sensitivity and specificity of hypouricemia in detecting liver function status in patients with liver cirrhosis were 62.5% and 100%, respectively.

The hypouricemia is one of sensitive factors to assess liver function and predictive value of survival in liver cirrhosis.