| Abstract: | Thirteen males and six females were given 40 grains of oral salicylate daily for six days. The serum uric acid of 16 of the 19 subjects fell, the mean post-treatment level being 1.1 mg. % less than the control mean. In five males and five females, administration of 20 grains of oral salicylate daily for six days resulted in a uniform rise of serum uric acid, the post-treatment mean being 1.4 mg. % above the pretreatment mean. Salicylate therapy in common dosage may therefore falsely elevate or depress serum uric acid levels. An accurate evaluation of a serum uric acid level can be made only if the patient is not under the influence of salicylates. |
