Gout, Pseudogout, Reactive Arthritis and AS Flashcards
What kind of crystals are seen in gout?
Monosodium urate (uric acid into these crystals)
Cardinal feature of gout
Inflammatory arthritis due to hyperuricemia
Where does the body get uric acid from?
It is a breakdown product of purine metabolism and is excreted by the kidney
What levels constitute hyperuricemia?
> 7.0 mg/dL in males
6.0 mg/dL in females
Either due to being underexcreter (most common) or overproducer
Overproducer
Due to inherited enzyme defects
High cell turnover (psoriasis or myeloproliferative disease)
Increased purine consumption (in diet)
Underexcretors
Renal insufficiency
Diuretics
Volume depletion
Lead nephropathy
Comorbidities of gout
HTN, obesity, CKD, diabetes, hyperlipidemia
Non-modifiable risk factors of gout
Male sex, advanced age, ethnicity (Pacific Islanders), genetic mutations/polymorphisms
Modifiable risk factors of gout
Obesity, diets rich in meat and seafood, ETOH, fructose-rich foods/beverages, diuretic use, transplant recipient status
4 stages of gouty arthritis
Asymptomatic hyperuricemia (15% get gout) Acute gouty arthritis (first attack) Intercritical gout (asymptomatic gout between attacks) Chronic gouty arthritis (tophaceous gout-involved joints will develop chronic swelling and tophi)
Tophi
White chalky material consisting of dense concentrations of MSU crystals
Due to duration and severity of hyperuricemia
Occur on avg 10 yrs after 1st attack if untreated gout
Pathogenesis pathway of gout
Hyperuricemia Deposition of crystals in/around joint Inflammatory cascade (painful joint) Without intervention tophi may develop Chronic gouty arthropathy (eroding bone and cartilage) without treatment
4 clinical manifestations of gout
Recurrent flares of inflammatory arthritis (gout flare)
Accumulation of urate crystals as tophaceous deposits
Chronic arthropathy
Renal complications (uric acid nephrolithiasis, urate nephropathy)
Presentation of acute gout attack
Monoarticular most of the time (can be poly) 1st MTP joint-big toe (Podagra) is most common site Self limiting (2 wks if untreated)
What triggers an acute gout flare?
Acute increases or decreases in urate levels
Ex: acute EtOH ingestion, food overindulgence, trauma, dehydration/starvation, meds (allopurinol or uricosuric agents usually treat gout but can also cause acute)
History of acute gout attack
Rapid onset, severe pain, pain peaks w/in 8-12 hours, redness, warmth, swelling, disability, maybe fever chills malaise
What will you see on the X-ray of established gout?
Bony erosions “punched out” with sclerotic margin and overhanging edges (rat bite erosions)
*early on there is only soft tissue swelling around joint
What does a duel-energy CT do?
ID urate deposits and tophi
What is seen in the ultrasound of gout?
Double contour sign (on artricular cartilage surfaces)
What must be done to diagnose gout?
Arthrocentesis
Arthrocentesis
Needle aspiration of the involved joint
Culture and gram stain it
Microscopic analysis shows MSU crystals and under polarized microscopy they are needle shaped and negatively bifefringent
When is serum uric acid the most accurate test?
> 2 wks after acute gout flare subsides (because might be normal level during acute attack)
Helpful to monitor effects of uric acid lowering therapy
What is 24 hour urinary uric acid used for?
If uricosuric therapy is being considered, then <800 mg is underexcretory and candidate for uricosuric therapy
Treatment vs no treatment for asymptomatic hyperuricemia
No treatment: no prior gouty arthritis, no tophaceous deposits, no nephrolithiasis
Treatment: urid acid excretion > 1100 mg/d, acute overproduction
Tx for acute gout attack
Treat pain and inflammation with NSAIDs, glucocorticoids or colchicine
Others: ice, ACTH, IL-1 inhibitors, Chinese herbs
Do not discontinue ULT
When are NSAIDs contraindicated to treat acute gout?
Chronic kidney disease, active duodenal or gastric ulcer, cardiovascular disease (not controlled), allergy, tx with anticoagulants
*most effected within 48 hours of onset of sx
Reasons to not use glucocorticoids or colchicine to treat gout
Glucocorticoids can increase blood sugar
Colchicine can be toxic when the patient has decreased renal function