Gout

Gout is a common, painful form of arthritis. It causes swollen, red, hot and stiff joints. Gout occurs when uric acid builds up in your blood. This happens if your body produces extra acid or does not eliminate enough, or if you eat too many foods with purines, such as liver and dried beans. Pseudogout has similar symptoms and is sometimes confused with gout. However, it is caused by calcium phosphate, not uric acid.

Often, gout first attacks your big toe. It can also attack ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers and elbows.

You are more likely to get gout if you

Are a man
Have family member with gout
Drink alcohol

At first, gout attacks usually get better in days. Eventually, attacks last longer and occur more often. Uric acid buildup can lead to kidney stones. Untreated gout can cause permanent joint and kidney damage. You can treat gout with medicines.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Gout on Wikipedia

'''Gout''' (old name: '''podagra''') is a form of arthritis caused by the accumulation of uric acid crystals (due to hyperuricemia) in joints. It is an immensely painful disease, which in most cases affects only one joint, most commonly the big toe. The patient usually suffers from two sources of pain. The crystals inside the joint cause immense pain whenever the affected area is moved. The inflammation of the tissues around the joint also causes the skin to be swollen, tender and sore even if it is slightly touched. For example, a blanket draping over the affected area would cause extreme pain.

Signs and symptoms

The classical picture is of excruciating pain of ''sudden'' onset in only one joint, usually the big toe (75% of first attacks affect the first metatarsal-phalangeal joint), associated with swelling and redness. Patients with longstanding hyperuricemia (see below) can have ''tophi'' (uric acid crystal deposits) in other tissues e.g. the helix of the ear. Uric acid stones can form as one kind of kidney stones in some occasions.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is generally made on a clinical basis, although tests are required to confirm the disease. Hyperuricemia is a required feature; it is defined as a blood plasma urate (uric acid) level greater than 420 ''μ''mol/L (7.0 mg/dL); despite the above, high uric acid level does not necessarily mean a person will develop gout. Other blood tests commonly performed are full blood count, electrolytes, renal function and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). This serves mainly to exclude other causes of arthritis, most notably septic arthritis. A definitive diagnosis of gout is from light microscopy of joint fluid aspirated from the joint (this test may be difficult to perform) to demonstrate intracellular monosodium urate crystals in synovial fluid polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

Gout Haters Cookbook - Recipes that are lower in purines and fat, designed specifically for those suffering from gout.

Pure Herb - Organic blend from Malaysia used to ward off diabetes, high blood pressure, and gout.

Home Remedy for Gout - A home remedy that prevents gout attacks without the need of herbs, medications or change in diet.

Gout-Cure - Specializing in a natural herbal blend that relieves pain of gout sufferers.

Inflam-Med - Offers a cutting-edge gout and arthritis treatment, whose aim is never to experience those intense joint pains again.

Princess Margaret Nucleotide Metabolism Centre - Research into Purine disorders including gout, self-biting, Lesch-Nyhan Disease.

Merck Manual - Overview of the signs, symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of gout.

Gout - Fact sheet from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

MEDLINEplus: Gout and Pseudogout - Fact sheets and resources concerning gout and pseudogout compiled by the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

PodiatryChannel - Brief description of gout, treatment and prevention.

Gout

Gout on Wikipedia

Signs and symptoms

Diagnosis

External Resources

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