Gout Flashcards
consequences of hyperuricemia
asymptomatic, gout, urolithiasis, urate nephropathy
Patient presents with high levels of uric acid. What med do you check in history?
thiazide use for HTN- reduces uric acid excretion
what is HALLMARK of gout
intercritical period gout- period between flares
stages of gout
acute gouty arthritis, intercritical period, chronic recurrent and tophaceous gout
most common location affected in gout..and second most common?
first metatorsophalangeal joint of great toe, then knee
single joint or multiple joints in gout affected?
80% of initial attacks involve SINGLE joint
acute gouty arthritis- patient will present most often with severe pain, redness, swelling, and disability of one single joint in body- usually PAINFUL, BIG TOE. what do you tell them about resolution of symptoms?
will take few days to several weeks, complete resoluation with or without meds!
labs in acute gouty arthritis
neutrophilic leukocytosis, elevated sed rate, elevated CRP, serum uric acid level may be normal or elevated
In cases of untreated gout, acute polyarticular gout may occur commonly- it is more commonly a/w special populations including
people with myeloproliferative or lymphoproliferative disorders, or patients with history of organ transplant who are receiving cyclosporine
“needle-shaped” birefringement, yellow describes
urate crystals
best way to diagnose gout
joint aspiration- visualize crystals- 100% specific, 85% sensitive
xray finding in gout
rat bite- punched out juxta-articular lesion, subcortical bone cyst
clinical diagnosis with total 13 points
serum uric acid level about 5.88 mg/dl, male, previous arthritis attack, big red toe involved, HTN or at least one CV disease, joint redness, onset within one day
How often after first attack is second attack usually? (how long is intercritical period)
2 years
what happens to intercritical period if disease is left untreated?
becomes shorter and flares become more severe
describe characteristic finding in chronic tophaceous gout stage
presence of tophi that can be palpated (collections of solid urate in CT)