Uric acid for diagnosis and risk stratification in suspected myocardial infarction.

Background: Hypoxia precedes cardiomyocyte necrosis in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We therefore hypothesized that uric acid - as a marker of oxidative stress and hypoxia - might be useful in the early diagnosis and risk stratification of patients with suspected AMI.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective observational study, uric acid was measured at presentation in 892 consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department with suspected AMI.