Elevated serum uric acid levels impair coronary microvascular function in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

In patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC), attenuated coronary flow reserve (CFR) and elevated serum uric acid levels have been reported. In this study, we investigated whether increased uric acid levels correlate with the degree of coronary microvascular dysfunction. Serum uric acid levels were measured in 29 patients with IDC (mean age: 57.0+/-10.8 years, 10 female), and each patient also underwent transthoracic echocardiographic examination including CFR measurement. The study population was divided into two groups according to the median CFR value (lower CFR group and higher CFR group). Uric acid levels were significantly higher in the lower CFR group than in the higher CFR group (7.59+/-2.56 vs 4.80+/-0.80 mg/dL, P=0.000). CFR correlated significantly and inversely to serum uric acid (r=-0.570, P=0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that uric acid level was the only independent predictor of CFR (B=-1080, P=0.015). We found a possibly clinically important negative association between serum uric acid levels and CFR in patients with IDC.