Gout

Introduction: Gout

Gout: Gout is one of the most painful rheumatic diseases. It results from deposits of needle-like crystals of uric acid in the connective tissue, ... more about Gout.

Gout: Painful joints, most commonly the big toe. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Gout is available below.

Symptoms of Gout

• No early symptoms - gradual buildup of crystals usually occurs without noticeable symptoms
• Joint pain
• Joint swelling
• Joint redness
• Joint warmth

See full list of 37 symptoms of Gout

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Gout:

• Home Andropause Tests
• Prostate Health: Home Testing:
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Medical Textbooks Online about Gout

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Gout

• Hyperuricemia test - not a very useful test as some people with gout
• Are negative and there are many false positives of healthy people with elevated uric acid
• Joint fluid test - examination for crystals; also test for bacteria to rule out infection.

Read more about tests for Gout

Wrongly Diagnosed with Gout?

• Misdiagnosis of Gout
• Underlying causes of Gout (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Misdiagnosis and Gout

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Read more about Misdiagnosis and Gout

Causes of Gout

• Hyperuricemia
• Alcoholism
• Lead poisoning

Read more about causes of Gout

More information about causes of Gout:

• Triggers for Gout
• Medications, drugs, or substances causing Gout (37 listings)
• Drug interactions causing Gout (48 listings)
• Underlying causes of Gout
• Gout as a complication caused by other conditions
• Gout as a symptom

Treatments for Gout

• Treatments for an acute gout atack:
  • NSAID’s - usually in high does
    • Indomethacin (Indocin)
    • Naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn)
  • Corticosteroid injections into the joint

See full list of 21 treatments for Gout

Videos for Gout

Patient Surveys for Gout

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Gout
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Prognosis for Gout

Prognosis for Gout: Good prognosis with adequate treatment.

More about prognosis of Gout

Reseach about Gout

Visit our research pages for current research about Gout treatments.

Clinical Trials for Gout

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Gout include:

• Pegylated Recombinant Mammalian Uricase (PEG-Uricase) as Treatment for Refractory Gout - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - PEG-uricase (Pegylated recombinant mammalian uricase)
• Open-Label Study, to Assess the Long-Term Safety of Febuxostat in Subjects With Gout Who Participated in the Double-Blind Study (TMX-00-004). - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Febuxostat
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Subjects With Gouty Tophi. - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Dose-Response, Safety and Efficacy Study of Oral Febuxostat in Subjects With Gout - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Febuxostat
• Open-Label, Randomized, Controlled Study of Allopurinol Vs. Febuxostat in Subjects Completing the Phase 3 Trials C02-009 or C02-010. - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Febuxostat or allopurinol

See full list of 12 Clinical Trials for Gout

Statistics for Gout

• Medical statistics for Gout
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Gout
• Death and Mortality statistics for Gout
• Society statistics for Gout

Types of Gout

• Podagra - the name for gout in the big toe; about 75% of cases.
• Subtype categories based on progression and severity:
  • Asymptomatic hyperuricemia - early stage without any symptoms.
  • Acute gout - also called acute gouty arthritis; sudden attacks of gout symptoms of joint pain and swelling.
  • Intercritical gout - the symptom-free stage between attacks of acute gout.

See full list of 6 Types of Gout

Medical Guidebooks and Ebooks for Gout

• Icon Health Sourcebook for Gout

See all guides and ebooks for Gout

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Gout, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Gout

Questions and Answers About Gout: NIAMS (Excerpt)

Gout is one of the most painful rheumatic diseases. It results from deposits of needle-like crystals of uric acid in the connective tissue, joint spaces, or both. These deposits lead to inflammatory arthritis, which causes swelling, redness, heat, pain, and stiffness in the joints. Arthritis is a term that is often used to refer to the more than 100 different rheumatic diseases that affect the joints, muscles, and bones, and may also affect other connective tissues. Gout accounts for about 5 percent of all cases of arthritis. Pseudogout, also a crystal-induced arthritis, is a condition with similar symptoms that results from deposits of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals in the joints. It is sometimes called calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, crystal deposition disease, or chondrocalcinosis. (Source: excerpt from Questions and Answers About Gout: NIAMS)

Questions and Answers About Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases: NIAMS (Excerpt)

This type of arthritis results from deposits of needle-like crystals of uric acid in the connective tissue, joint spaces, or both. Uric acid is a normal breakdown product of purines, which are present in body tissues and in many foods. Usually, uric acid passes through the kidney into urine and is eliminated. If the concentration of uric acid in the blood rises above normal levels, sodium urate crystals may form in the tendons, ligaments, and cartilage of the joints. These needle-like crystals cause inflammation, swelling, and pain in the affected joint. The joint most commonly affected is the big toe. (Source: excerpt from Questions and Answers About Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases: NIAMS)

Obesity: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Gout is a joint disease caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid sometimes forms crystals that are deposited in the joints. Gout is more common in overweight people. If you have a history of gout, check with your doctor before trying to lose weight. Some diets may lead to an attack of gout in people who have high levels of uric acid or who have had gout before. (Source: excerpt from Obesity: NWHIC)

Arthritis Advice - Age Page - Health Information: NIA (Excerpt)

Gout occurs most often in older men. It affects the toes, ankles, elbows, wrists, and hands. An acute attack of gout is very painful. Swelling may cause the skin to pull tightly around the joint and make the area red or purple and very tender. Medicines can stop gout attacks, as well as prevent further attacks and damage to the joints. (Source: excerpt from Arthritis Advice - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)

Definitions of Gout:

Arthritis, especially of the great toe, as a result of gout. Acute gouty arthritis often is precipitated by trauma, infection, surgery, etc. The initial attacks are usually monoarticular but later attacks are often polyarticular. - (Source - Diseases Database)

A painful inflammation of the big toe and foot caused by defects in uric acid metabolism resulting in deposits of the acid and its salts in the blood and joints - (Source - WordNet 2.1)