The normal value of blood uric acid is not the same for men and women. Normal is 150-380umol/L for men and 100-300umol/L for women, which is lower for women than men, but close to men for women after menopause. Because of the large fluctuations in blood uric acid, the measurement needs to be repeated several times. Hyperuricemia is diagnosed if blood uric acid is greater than 420umol/L in men and postmenopausal women, or greater than 350umol/L in premenopausal women. Increased blood uric acid in some patients is associated with the use of medications that inhibit uric acid excretion, such as thiazide diuretics. It is important to note that hyperuricemia is not the same as gout, as some patients simply present with hyperuricemia without obvious symptoms. In addition, during an acute attack of gouty arthritis, the blood uric acid may not be high due to the body’s stress response.