simple facts about gout

8/17/2019 Simple Facts About Gout

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Simple facts about gout


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What Is Gout?

Gout is a kind of arthritis caused by a buildup of uricacid crystals in the joints. Uric acid is a breakdownproduct of purines that are part of many foods weeat. An abnormality in handling uric acid andcrystallization of these compounds in joints can causeattacks of painful arthritis, kidney stones, andblockage of the kidney ltering tubules with uric acidcrystals, leading to kidney failure. Gout has theunique distinction of being one of the mostfrequently recorded medical illnessesthroughout history.


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Symptoms of Gout

Acute gout attacks are characterized by a rapid onset ofpain in the affected joint followed by warmth, swelling,reddish discoloration, and marked tenderness. !he small joint at the base of the big toe is the most common site foran attack. "ther joints that can be affected include theankles, knees, wrists, ngers, and elbows. #n some people,

the acute pain is so intense that e$en a bed sheet touchingthe toe causes se$ere pain. !hese painful attacks usuallysubside in hours to days, with or without medication. #n rareinstances, an attack can last for weeks. %ost people withgout will e&perience repeated bouts o$er the years.


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Who's Aected by Gout?

!he pre$alence of gout in the U.'. has risen o$er the lasttwenty years and now affects (.) million *+- Americans.Gout is more common in men than in women and morepre$alent in AfricanAmerican men than white men. !hechances of ha$ing gout rises with age, with a peak age of /0.#n women, gout attacks usually occur after menopause.

Among the U.'. population, about 12 ha$e ele$ated blooduric acid le$els, a condition known as hyperuricemia.3owe$er, only a small portion of those with hyperuricemiawill actually de$elop gout. #f your parents ha$e gout, thenyou ha$e a 14 chance of de$eloping it.


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Risk Factors for Gout

"besity, e&cessi$e weight gain, especially in youth,moderate to hea$y alcohol intake, high blood pressure, andabnormal kidney function are among the risk factors forde$eloping gout. 5ertain drugs and diseases can also causeele$ated le$els of uric acid. Also, there is an increasedpre$alence of abnormally low thyroid hormone le$els*hypothyroidism- in patients with gout.


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What Gout Looks Like: The i!Toe

!he joint at the base of the big toe is the most common siteof an acute gout attack. !hese attacks can recur unless goutis treated. 'ee your doctor e$en if the pain from gout isgone. "$er time, they can harm joints, tendons, and othertissues.


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What Gout Looks Like: TheFi"!ers

6eople may e&perience gout with deposits of uric acidcrystals in their nger joints. !o ease the pain during a goutattack, rest the joint that hurts.


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What Gout Looks Like: The#$bo%

Gout can also attack joints such as the elbows and knees.7otice the protrusion on the elbow.


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&ia!"osi"! Gouty Arthritis

Gout is considered when a patient reports a history ofrepeated attacks of painful arthritis, especially at the baseof the toes or in the ankles and knees. !he most reliable testfor gout is detecting uric acid crystals in the joint 8uidobtained by joint aspiration. !his common ofce procedureis performed with topical local anesthesia. Using sterile

technique, 8uid is withdrawn *aspirated- from the in8amed joint with a syringe and needle.


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&ia!"osi"! Gout: oi"t F$uidA"a$ysis

"nce joint 8uid is obtained, it is analyzed for uric acidcrystals and infection. 9our doctor may also do a blood testto measure the amount of uric acid in your blood.


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(o% Are Gout Attacks)re*e"ted?

%aintaining adequate 8uid intake helps pre$ent acute goutattacks and decreases the risk of kidney stone formation inpeople with gout. Alcohol is known to ha$e diuretic effectsthat can contribute to dehydration and precipitate acutegout attacks. Alcohol can also affect uric acid metabolismand cause hyperuricemia. #t causes gout by slowing downthe e&cretion of uric acid from the kidneys as well as bycausing dehydration, which precipitates the crystals in the joints.


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+ore )re*e"tio" Tech"i,ues

:ietary changes can help reduce uric acid le$els in theblood. 'ince purine chemicals are con$erted by the bodyinto uric acid, purinerich foods should be a$oided. ;oodsrich in purines include shellsh and organ meats, such asli$er, brains, and kidneys.


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Treati"! Gout %ith +edicatio"s

5ertain medications reduce the pain and in8ammation ofgout attacks, such as antiin8ammatory drugs *ibuprofenand others-, colchicine, and corticosteroids. "thermedications decrease the le$el of uric acid in the blood andpre$ent the deposit of uric acid in joints *gouty arthritis-,the kidneys *stones-, and in tissue *tophi-, helping to

pre$ent further attacks and complications. !hese drugsinclude allopurinol, febu&ostat, lesinurad, and probenicid.

simple facts about gout

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