DEPOSITS OF URIC ACID CRYSTAL IN THE OCULAR STRUCTURES OF PATIENTS WITH GOAT

AIM. To study the features of eye manifestations with gout. METHODS. The study included 170 male patients with cataracts, aged 30 to 75 years, who were divided into two groups: the first group (control) - 60 patients without gout (100%), the second group (study) - 110 patients with cataract accompanied by gout (100%). In addition to standard ophthalmic testing, the level of uric acid in blood serum, in a tear and in the vagina of the anterior chamber was studied in all patients. These parameters allow to analyze deviations from the normal, a comparison of two independent groups using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. Data were median (25%; 75% percentile). Differences at which p <0.05 are considered statistically significant. RESULTS. In the study group, deposits of uric acid crystals on the surface of the eye structures were found in 14 (13%) patients. CONCLUSIONS. 15-year or more experience with gout associated with its regular therapy and prolonged hyperuricemia leads to an elevated level of uric acid in the tear and in the moisture of the anterior chamber and development of sodium monourate crystals and microtofuses on the ocular surface.