Alcohol and Alcoholism Vol. 37, No. 5, pp. 472-474, 2002
© 2002 Medical Council on Alcohol
CASE REPORT
HYPOURICAEMIA AS A MARKER OF A GENERALIZED PROXIMAL TUBULAR DAMAGE IN ALCOHOLIC PATIENTS
Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 451 10 Ioannina, Greece
Received 26 October 2001; first review notified 14 March 2002; accepted 22 March 2002
ABSTRACT
Aims and Methods: Hypouricaemia is not frequently encountered in alcoholic patients. Described herein is the case of a 69-year-old alcoholic patient. Results: The patient presented with severe hypouricaemia (serum uric acid 95.2 µmol/l) due to renal urate wasting associated with a cluster of other metabolic abnormalities in the context of a reversible generalized dysfunction of the proximal tubules that mimicked Fanconi syndrome. Conclusions: The underlying mechanisms of this rare presentation are discussed.