Answer to Question 1
Leukemia can cause an increase in the level of uric acid in the blood secondary to an increased number of white blood cells and following treatment with drugs that destroy the leukemic cells. There is an increased breakdown of nucleoprotein yielding a large amount of uric acid and the inadequate renal excretion of uric acid from the excessive breakdown of nucleoprotein.
Answer to Question 2
Primary gout results from the metabolic disorder of purine metabolism with crystallization of uric acid within the joint that incites an intense inflammatory reaction.
Secondary gout is any condition that increases the level of uric acid in the blood with hyperuricemia resulting from decreased renal excretion of uric acid or increased nucleoprotein breakdown.
