uricacidemia
Very lowTechnical/Specialist (Medical, Biomedical, Clinical Chemistry)
Definition
Meaning
The presence of an abnormally high level of uric acid in the blood.
A biochemical condition, often a key indicator of disorders like gout, kidney dysfunction, or Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, characterised by elevated serum uric acid concentration.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Used as a diagnostic term. The suffix '-emia' denotes a condition of the blood. It is a hypernym for specific states like hyperuricemia.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or spelling. The term is used identically in both medical lexicons.
Connotations
Purely clinical and pathological, with no additional cultural connotations.
Frequency
Extremely rare in non-specialist contexts in both varieties. More common synonyms are used in general healthcare communication.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Patient/Subject] presented with uricacidemia.Uricacidemia was confirmed/detected/found in [Patient].[Condition/Drug] can cause/induce uricacidemia.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Academic
Used in medical and biochemical research papers, e.g., 'The study correlated genetic markers with persistent uricacidemia.'
Everyday
Virtually never used. A doctor might say 'high uric acid' or 'gout risk' instead.
Technical
Core term in clinical pathology reports, metabolic disorder diagnoses, and pharmacology studies on uricosuric drugs.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The uricacidemic patient was prescribed allopurinol.
American English
- Uricacidemic states require careful monitoring.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Too much uric acid in the blood can cause health problems.
- The test results showed he had a high level of uric acid in his blood, a condition linked to gout.
- Persistent uricacidemia, often asymptomatic, is a significant risk factor for the development of tophaceous gout and renal calculi.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: URIc ACID in the blood-emia. 'Your acid in the blood' condition.
Conceptual Metaphor
BLOOD IS A SOLUTION (containing dissolved substances at measurable concentrations).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'уремия' (uremia/azotemia), which is a different condition involving urea/creatinine.
- Avoid direct calque 'уриккислотаемия'. The correct medical term is 'гиперурикемия' (hyperuricemia).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'uricacidimia' or 'uricacidema'.
- Confusing it with 'acidosis' (low blood pH) or 'uremia' (kidney failure).
Practice
Quiz
Uricacidemia is most directly associated with which condition?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Uricacidemia (hyperuricemia) is the biochemical condition of high blood uric acid. Gout is a clinical disease that can result from it, characterised by painful arthritis due to urate crystal deposition.
Medical specialists like rheumatologists, nephrologists, clinical pathologists, and biomedical researchers.
'Hyperuricemia' is the far more frequently used synonymous term in medical literature.
Yes, a diet high in purines (e.g., from red meat, shellfish, alcohol) can contribute to elevated uric acid levels, though genetic factors often play a key role.