Is it currently recommended to measure the uric acid level in blood and reduce it pharmacologically as part of cardiovascular disease prevention?
Gerd Hasenfuß, MD: In epidemiological studies it has been shown to be a risk factor for coronary artery disease, but there is no data showing that reduction of uric acid levels reduces cardiovascular risk. Currently, there is no recommendation to use these drugs with the purpose of reducing cardiovascular risk. Of course, if there is gout or some other symptoms, then it is needed, but not to reduce cardiovascular risk. That is also true for heart failure patients in particular.