Which of the following is a secondary cause of hyperuricemia?

Prepare for USMLE Step 1 Pathology Exam with comprehensive quizzes, flashcards, and detailed explanations. Enhance your understanding and be exam-ready!

Hyperuricemia, which is defined as an excess of uric acid in the blood, can arise from various primary and secondary causes. Secondary causes are generally associated with other medical conditions or factors that influence uric acid production or excretion.

In this context, leukemia is a malignancy of white blood cells that can lead to increased cell turnover. When leukemic cells undergo rapid proliferation and subsequent lysis, they release nucleic acids, which are then broken down into uric acid, ultimately increasing its levels in the blood. Thus, leukemia is a classic example of a secondary cause of hyperuricemia due to this heightened purine metabolism.

While fructose metabolism disorders, chronic renal failure, and allopurinol therapy are relevant to uric acid metabolism, they differ in how they relate to hyperuricemia. Fructose can increase uric acid levels through its metabolism, but it does not constitute a secondary cause derived from an underlying disease typically. Chronic renal failure is a prominent secondary cause since the kidneys are less able to excrete uric acid; however, it was not selected as the correct answer here. Allopurinol therapy is a treatment used to lower uric acid levels rather than a cause of hyperur

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