Community-based study in Taiwan aborigines concerning renal dysfunction in gout patients

Objective: To reveal the factors associated with renal dysfunction among gout patients in Taiwan aborigines. Methods: Social demographic data, alcohol consumption data, anthropometric measurements, blood samples, and 24-h urine samples were collected from 128 aboriginals ( 101 men, 27 women) suffering from gout. Results: The men displayed higher mean creatinine clearance (Ccr) values than women. Twenty-two postmenopausal women had significantly lower Ccr values compared to the five pre-menopausal women [ probability (p) <0.001]. The males displayed higher 24-h urinary creatinine value than females (8.60 +/- 5.39 versus 5.58 +/- 2.14 mmol/L; p<0.05), and showed a significantly higher positive relationship between 24-h urinary creatinine and uric acid excretion [ correlation coefficient (r)= 0.7304; p<0.001], whereas the females did not (r = 0.1144; p = 0.5691). Overall, those who were older members of the Tsou tribe, or had excreted less uric acid from urine in 24 h tended to suffer renal dysfunction. Conclusions: Gout patients displayed diversity in renal function. An exogenous source of creatinine in men was more likely than in women.