11. The Dutch scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek first described the microscopic appearance of urate crystals in 1679. 12. It is a recombinant version of urate oxidase, an enzyme that metabolizes uric acid to allantoin. 13. Urate oxidase is known to be present in many mammals but does not naturally occur in humans.14. Urate stones can be dissolved using a diet with reduced purines that alkalinizes and dilutes the urine.15. Greater than 90 % of urate excreted by the kidneys is derived from the process of secretion. 16. One treatment for gout in the 19th century was administration of lithium salts; lithium urate is more soluble. 17. Elevated levels of uric acid may also lead to crystals precipitating in the kidneys, resulting in urate nephropathy. 18. Earlier trials had suggested those with the highest serum urate levels had lower progression of Parkinson's symptoms. 19. During periods of adequate rainfall, they drink copiously from any pools they find, and eliminate solid urates . 20. It results in high blood levels of sulfite and urate , in much the same way as molybdenum cofactor deficiency.
