Clinical Approach- Joint Pain II Flashcards
What is crystal-induced arthropathy?
Crystals (like gout) deposit in your joints –> inflammation and pain
Does gout affect more males or females?
Males
High levels of ________ in the blood predisposes you to gout?
Uric acid ( > 6.8 mg/dL)
Food high in _____ can precipitate gout?
Purines
red meat, shellfish, beer and beans
Which diuretic increases risk of gout?
Thiazide diuretics
Describe the pathogenesis of gout
Supersaturation of uric acid –> crystal formation –> activates immune system –> increased IL-B1
Is hyperuricemia usually caused by overproduction or underexcretion of uric acid?
Underexcretion
Does everyone with hyperuricemia develop gout?
Only 20%
WHat are the two precursors for uric acid?
Adenine and Guanine (the two purines)
What is the pattern of onset of gout?
Acute “attacks” or “flairs” - usually monoarticular (but could be poly) that resolves in days to weeks
What is definitive diagnosis of gout?
Demonstration of crystal deposition on polarized microscopy (they are negative birefringent)
What are tophi?
Sheets/clumps of crystals in the joints
What are the go-to’s for treatment of and acute flair of gout?
NSAIDS, corticosteroids, anti IL-1
How do we prevent a relapse of gout?
Colchicine, NSAIDS
How do we decrease uric acid levels?
xanthine oxidase inhibitors