Gout Flashcards
How long do flare-up episodes typically last for in gout?
few days; acute episodes typically develop maximal intensity within 12hours
What are the key features of a flare up of gout?
- pain - often very significant
- swelling
- erythema
What is the most commonly affected joint in gout?
Metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint - around 70%
What were attacks of gout in the first MTP traditionally called?
podagra
What are 4 joints commonly affected by gout?
- First MTP
- Ankle
- Wrist
- Knee
What can repeated acute episodes of gout lead to?
can damage the joints resulting in a more chronic joint problem
What are 6 radiological features of gout?
- Joint effusion is an early sign
- Well-defined ‘punched-out’ erosions with sclerotic margins in a juxta-articular distribution, often with overhanging edges
- Relative preservation of joint space until late disease
- Eccentric erosions
- No periarticular osteopenia (in contrast to rheumatoid arthritis)
- Soft tissue tophi may be seen
What is gout and what is its cause?
form of microcrystal synovitis caused by the deposition of monosodium urate monohydrate in the synovium
caused by chronic hyperuricaemia (uric acid >0.45 mmol/L)
What are 3 groups of causes of gout?
- Decreased excretion of uric acid
- Increased production of uric acid
- Lesch Nyhan syndrome
What are 3 situations when there is decreased excretion of uric acid?
- Drugs: diuretics, pyrazinamide, low-dose aspirin
- Chronic kidney disease/ renal failure
- Alcohol
- Lead toxicity
- Pre-eclampsia
What are 6 conditions where there is increased production of uric acid?
- Myeloproliferative/lymphoproliferative disorder
- Cytotoxic drugs
- Severe psoriasis
- Exercise
- Diet rich in purines
- Lesch-Nyhan disease
What is Lesch Nyhan syndrome?
Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRTase) deficiency; inherited in x-linked recessive fashion
What is the inheritance pattern of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome?
x-linked recessive therefore only seen in boys
What are 5 features of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome?
- Gout
- Renal failure
- Neurological deficits
- Learning difficulties
- Self-mutilation
What is the first line management of acute gout?
- NSAIDs or colchicine
If the first line treatment of gout involves NSAIDs how should they be prescribed?
maximum dose of NSAID should be prescribed until 1-2 days after the symptoms have settled
gastroprotection (e.g. a proton pump inhibitor) may also be indicated
What is the onset of colchicine to treat acute episodes of gout like?
slower onset of action
What is the main side effect of colchicine?
diarrhoea
What medication can be considered to treat gout if NSAIDs and colchicine are contraindicated?
oral steroids: dose of prednisolone 15mg/day usually used
another option is intra-articular steroid injection
What should be done is a patient is being treated for an acute episode of gout but is already taking allopurinol?
allopurinol should be continued
What is another name for the maintenance therapy sometimes used in gout?
urate-lowering therapy