Uric acid excretion in rotavirus gastro-enteritis

Background: Urate urolithiasis in children has been reported in Japan in association with rotavirus (RV) gastro-enteritis (GE). Aims: To test the hypothesis that children with RV GE have an increased risk of hyperuricosuria compared with GE presumably caused by other viruses. Objectives: Prospective analytic cohort study of urinary uric acid excretion in children presenting with GE between 1 January 2011 and 31 May 2012. Methods: Two groups were compared: group R (RV GE) and group N (with presumed other viral causes of GE). Serum urea, creatinine (Scr), uric acid (Sur) and urinary uric acid were compared with creatinine (Uur/ Ucr) ratio, fractional excretion of uric acid (FEur) and uric acid for creatinine clearance between the two groups. Results: A total of 87 Emirati children were enrolled in the study. Group R included 46 children (mean age 25 months) and group N 41 children (mean age 43 months). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the blood levels of urea, creatinine, uric acid, nor in urinary pH and specific gravity. Urinary uric acid excretion measured by Uur/Ucr ratio, uric acid for creatinine clearance and FEur was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in uric acid levels and uric acid excretion between patients with RV GE and those with other presumed viral causes of GE. Further studies with larger sample sizes including children with more severe dehydration and a prolonged course of GE are needed.