Hyperuricemia and Its Association With Ischemic Stroke

Elevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) as well as many other medical conditions. AIS is a CV complication that is the second most common cause of mortality worldwide. It results from reduced blood flow to the brain by means of thrombosis, embolism, or systemic hypoperfusion. Studies have demonstrated an association between SUA levels and CV events, with a significant dose-response relationship between elevated SUA levels and stroke risk. Since the relationship between SUA levels and AIS risk has been established, studies are also being conducted in order to evaluate whether antihyperuricemic drugs can lower this risk. Allopurinol use in hyperuricemic patients has been shown to decrease the risk of major CV events, which include AIS. This narrative review aims to investigate the role of SUA as an independent risk factor for AIS along with the proposed biological mechanisms by thoroughly appraising research findings from relevant full-text articles and abstracts indexed in PubMed and the Cochrane Library. In this literature, we will be discussing hyperuricemia, AIS, the association between the two, and the use of antihyperuricemic medications on stroke prognosis. This review will also shed new light on studies that have begun to provide insight into the predictive role of hyperuricemia in AIS.