Urate production by human heart

Xanthine oxidoreductase has been demonstrated in the heart of various species. However, its presence in human heart is still debated. In the literature, high to undetectable levels have been reported. We studied the arterial-venous urate difference across the heart of patients undergoing both routine cardiac catheterization and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Urate is the end product of the reaction catalysed by xanthine oxidoreductase. In 10 patients, studied before angioplasty, the plasma urate level in the great cardiac vein exceeded the arterial one by 26 +/- 10 nmol/ml (P = 0.028). In a further 13 patients, urate production was maximal immediately after the last of four consecutive occlusions (23 +/- 8 nmol/ml, P = 0.018) and concomitant with increased coronary sinus hypoxanthine levels. We conclude that xanthine oxidoreductase is probably present in the heart of patients, suffering from ischemic heart disease, and responsible for the increase in urate production during transient myocardial ischemia.