Article Text
Letter
Correlation of oestrogen receptor gene polymorphism with gouty arthritis
Gout represents a group of diseases characterised by hyperuricaemia, arthritis, and uric acid crystal formation. Men have a higher level of serum uric acid and are more susceptible to gout than women. The lower serum urate values in women of reproductive age compared with their male counterparts have been ascribed to lower renal postsecretory uric acid reabsorption.1 An increase in ratios of testosterone to oestradiol has been reported to be associated with hyperuricaemia.2
The oestrogen receptor gene is located at chromosome 6q25.1 and has a thymine–adenine (TA) dinucleotide repeat polymorphism 1174 bp upstream from exon 1. This polymorphism has been shown to be associated with menopausal …
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Competing interests: None declared.