Gout

Summary

Gout is a common, painful form of arthritis. It causes swollen, red, hot and stiff joints.

Gout happens when uric acid builds up in your body. Uric acid comes from the breakdown of substances called purines. Purines are in your body’s tissues and in foods, such as liver, dried beans and peas, and anchovies. Normally, uric acid dissolves in the blood. It passes through the kidneys and out of the body in urine. But sometimes uric acid can build up and form needle-like crystals. When they form in your joints, it is very painful. The crystals can also cause kidney stones.

Often, gout first attacks your big toe. It can also attack ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows. At first, gout attacks usually get better in days. Eventually, attacks last longer and happen more often.

You are more likely to get gout if you:

• Are a man
• Have family member with gout
• Are overweight
• Drink alcohol
• Eat too many foods rich in purines

Gout can be hard to diagnose. Your doctor may take a sample of fluid from an inflamed joint to look for crystals. You can treat gout with medicines.

Pseudogout has similar symptoms and is sometimes confused with gout. However, it is caused by calcium phosphate, not uric acid.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Statistics and Research

• Arthritis by the Numbers: Book of Trusted Facts and Figures Arthritis Foundation

Patient Handouts

• Calcium pyrophosphate arthritis Medical Encyclopedia
• Gout Medical Encyclopedia
• Uric acid – blood Medical Encyclopedia
• Uric acid urine test Medical Encyclopedia

Related Issues

• Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition (CPPD) American College of Rheumatology
• Diuretics and Gout: What’s the Connection? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Gout in Hands American Society for Surgery of the Hand
• Pseudogout American Society for Surgery of the Hand

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Chondrocalcinosis National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Gout National Institutes of Health

Find an Expert

• Find a Rheumatologist American College of Rheumatology
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Images

• Gout VisualDX

Start Here

• Gout National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• Gout American College of Rheumatology
• Gout Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Living With

• Gout Diet Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Genetics

• Gout: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase superactivity: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• REN-related kidney disease: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Uromodulin-associated kidney disease: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Treatments and Therapies

• Joint Injections (Joint Aspirations) American College of Rheumatology
• NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) American College of Rheumatology

Journal Articles

• Gout

Encyclopedia

• Synovial biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Synovial fluid analysis Medical Encyclopedia

Diagnosis and Tests

• Synovial Fluid Analysis National Library of Medicine
• Uric Acid Test National Library of Medicine