Hyperuricemia and overexcretion of uric acid increase the risk of simple renal cysts in type 2 diabetes

Previous studies have discussed the relationship between simple renal cysts (SRC) and serum uric acid level in healthy individuals. We performed a cross-sectional study to evaluate the association between serum uric acid level and fractional excretion of uric acid (FEUA) and simple renal cysts in males and postmenopausal females with type 2 diabetes. The overall prevalence of SRC was 18.1% in our population. SRC prevalence was significantly higher in hyperuricemic than normouricemic subjects (27.3% vs. 16.8%, P < 0.001). Subjects who overexcreted uric acid had a higher prevalence of SRC than underexcretors (total population: 21.6% vs. 16.3%; normouricemic subjects: 19.8% vs. 13.7%; hyperuricemic subjects: 50.0% vs. 22.7%, all P-values < 0.05). Hyperuricemia (odds ratio [OR] 1.824, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.332–2.498, P < 0.001); FEUA (OR 1.046, 95% CI 1.002–1.091, P < 0.05); male gender (OR 1.922, 95% CI 1.489–2.480, P < 0.001); age (OR 1.049, 95% CI 1.035–1.064, P < 0.001); and albuminuria (OR 1.492, 95% CI 1.176–1.892, P < 0.01) were independent risk factors for SRC development. These findings suggested that hyperuricemia and high level of FEUA were both independent risk factors for SRC development in males and postmenopausal females with type 2 diabetes. Half of overproduction hyperuricemic patients had SRC.