Recent experimental findings have led to renewed interest in the possible role of uric acid in
the pathogenesis of both hypertension and vascular disease. Often considered an
antioxidant, biochemical and in vitro data indicate that noncrystalline, soluble uric acid also
can react to form radicals, increase lipid oxidation, and induce various pro-oxidant effects in
vascular cells. In vitro and in vivo findings suggest that uric acid may contribute to
endothelial dysfunction by inducing antiproliferative effects on endothelium and impairing …