The presence of crystal proven podagra coincident with a 52% decrease in plasma urate after a 3-day course of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) prompted a study of urate excretion in 9 patients with Crohn's disease. By Day 9 in those receiving TPN, plasma urate decreased 58% (p less than 0.001), while fractional urate excretion increased 94% (p less than 0.005). Twenty-four hour urate excretion and serum creatinine were not significantly altered. These findings persisted for the duration of TPN. In 2 patients with ileocolitis, the addition or deletion of either lipid emulsion or multivitamin infusions during TPN had no effect on urate values. Rather, the amino acid load or a specific constituent appears to be the causal factor. These data suggest that hypouricemia due to extensive net urate excretion is common during TPN therapy. Finally, patients with established gout may be at risk for acute gouty attacks during TPN therapy.