BL 02-25-14 9-10AM Crystal Anthropathies-GOUT Flashcards
GOUT defn.
= a crystal anthropathy
= heterogeneous group of diseases in which tissue deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals occurs due to hyperuricemia (MSU supersaturation of extracellular fluids)
—> acute or chronic arthritis
- Hyperuricemia w/out symptoms is referred to as “asymptomatic hyperuricemia,” not gout
GOUT: Results of MSU crystal deposition (manifestation)
One or more of the following manifestations:
A) Gouty arthritis
B) Tophi
C) Gouty nephropathy
D) Uric acid nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
Gouty arthritis
recurrent attacks of severe acute or chronic articular and periarticular inflammation
Tophi
aggregated deposits of MSU occurring in joints, bones, and soft tissue
Gouty nephropathy
renal interstitial, glomerular, and/or tubular deposition of MSU crystals
Stages of Gouty Arthritis
A) Asymptomatic hyperuricemia
B) Acute Gouty Arthritis
C) Intercritical gout
D) Chronic Tophaceous Gout
Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia
- Elevated serum uric acid level w/out symptoms (NO arthritis, tophi, or nephrolithiasis)
Elevated serum urate level
= when exceeds limit of solubility of MSU in serum
= At 37C, >7.0 mg/dl
Acute Gouty Arthritis
- Abrupt onset of exquisitely painful, warm, red, swollen joint often during night or early morning
= most often involved great toe’s MTP joint (metatarsophalangeal)
= also insteps, ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers, & elbows - Early attacks often spontaneously resolve over 3-10 days.
- has predilection for cooler, acral sites where solubility of MSU crystals diminished due
Intercritical gout
Asymptomatic intervals between acute attacks of gout.
Chronic Tophaceous Gout
= Development of subQ, synovial, or subchondral bone deposits of MSU crystals
= commonly on digits of hands & feet, olecranon bursa, extensor surface of forearm, Achilles tendon
- less commonly in antihelix of ear
Epidemiology of Gout (age, sex, prevalence)
- Predominantly in adult men (>30 yo, peak in 50s)
- In females, postmenopause
Prevalence:
- > 2% in men over 30 & women over 50
- 9% & 6%, respectively, in men & women over 80
= most common cause of inflammatory arthritis in men over age 40
Most common medical conditions associated w/ gout
alcohol abuse
obesity
insulin resistance syndrome
HTN
Pathology of Gout
Examine fresh synovial fluid for MSU crystals
- Intracellular crystals in PMNs are needle-shaped & negatively birefringent (yellow when parallel to axis of red compensator) on polarizing microscopy
Synovial fluid is inflammatory (20,000-100,000 leukocytes/mm3 ) w/ predominance of neutrophils
Hematological eval may show
- elevated ESR
- mild neutrophil leukocytosis
- possibly reative thrombocytosis
Cause of hyperuricemia
- increased production or decreased renal excretion of urate
= MOST OFTEN UNDER-EXCRETION (90%) - In steady state, Urate Produced + Urate Absorbed (by GI) = Urate Excreted + Urate Loss (by GI)
24 hr Urinary excretion values & meaning
Normal 24 hr urinary excretion of uric = 750 mg on
- if >750 mg = overproduction of uric acid
- if <750 mg = underexcretion of uric acid
Urinary uric acid excretion – 4 Compartment Model:
1) Glomerular filtration (~100% of filtered uric acid load) followed in proximal tubule by
2) pre-secretory reabsorption
3) secretion back into tubule
4) post-secretory reabsorption
(see picture in notes)