| What is gouty arthritis? Gout is a term which pertains | | | | women after menopause, the risk is similar to that of |
| to the presence of characteristic crystals in tissues | | | | men. Gouty arthritis is strongly associated with kidney |
| and joints. Gouty arthritis is the result of an | | | | disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity and |
| inflammatory response mounted against these | | | | diabetes. People who have a family history of gout are |
| characteristic crystals in joints. As a result of that, the | | | | at risk of getting gout themselves too.How is gouty |
| affected joints become swollen, red and painful. The | | | | arthritis diagnosed? Gouty arthritis is diagnosed by |
| joints most frequently affected by gouty arthritis are | | | | identifying typical features of an acute attack. Gouty |
| the first metacarpal phalangeal joint or the thumb joint | | | | arthritis should be suspected when a patient |
| and the first metatarsal phalangeal joint or the joint of | | | | experiences sudden joint swelling and severe pain, |
| the big toe. Other joints may be affected as well and | | | | usually followed by pain-free periods between attacks. |
| these include the knee joints, shoulder joints and rarely, | | | | Definitive diagnosis of gouty arthritis is based on |
| the hip joints.What are the symptoms of gouty | | | | identifying characteristic crystals (known as |
| arthritis? Initial symptoms include sudden and rapid | | | | monosodium urate crystals) in joint fluid under a |
| swolling of a single joint, the most common joint being | | | | microscope, which the physician extracts using a |
| the joint of the big toe, giving rise to a painful, red and | | | | needle from an affected joint. Measurement of uric |
| swollen big toe, which occasionally may be confused | | | | acid level in the blood is not necessary in the diagnosis |
| with an infection. Other joints may also be affected in | | | | of gouty arthritis, as uric acid levels are often elevated |
| similar ways, although that is not common.What are | | | | in people who do not have gout.How is gouty arthritis |
| the causes of gouty arthritis? Gouty arthritis occurs | | | | treated? In an acute attack, gouty arthritis is treated |
| when excess uric acid deposits in joints, forming | | | | with colchicine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory |
| characteristic crystals (known as monosodium urate | | | | drugs (NSAIDs) which include indomethacin and |
| crystals). In a normal person, the rate of uric acid | | | | naproxen. Corticosteroids, given orally or by injection, |
| production (waste product of cellular metabolism) | | | | can be useful in dampen the inflammatory response in |
| equates to the rate of uric acid excretion (through the | | | | acute attack. Allopurinol, which blocks the production of |
| kidneys). In people with gouty arthritis, the rate of | | | | uric acid in the body, has no role in an acute attack. |
| excretion is markedly reduced, which leads to | | | | However, it's use in normalizing blood uric acid level |
| excessive accumulation of uric acid in the body and | | | | between attacks and to prevent acute gouty arthritis |
| subsequently, in the joint. In certain subgroups of people | | | | is invaluable.In conclusion: Gouty arthritis is the result of |
| with gouty arthritis, the rate of uric acid production | | | | inflammation caused by deposition of characteristic |
| greatly exceeds excretion and thus excess uric acid | | | | crystals in joints. There are many causes of gouty |
| accumulates in the body.Factors that increase uric acid | | | | arthritis, all of which fall under two big umbrellas, either |
| production include excessive consumption of shellfish | | | | there is an excess production, or a decrease excretion |
| and alcohol, obesity; some medications can increase | | | | of uric acid. Risk factors that predispose an individual |
| uric acid levels, examples include aspirin, diuretics and | | | | to develop gouty arthritis include obesity, excessive |
| immunosuppressants. On the other hand, kidney failure | | | | alcohol consumption, kidney disease, certain drugs and |
| will reduce rate of excretion and thus causes an | | | | so on. Acute attack can be treated with colchicine, |
| accumulation of uric acid in the body.What are at risks | | | | NSAIDs and corticosteroids, while prevention can be |
| of getting gouty arthritis? Gouty arthritis affects 1% of | | | | achieved by taking allopurinol. Allopurinol has no role in |
| the population. 10% of older men have gout. Gout is | | | | an acute attack. |
| more common in men than women. However, in | | | | |