Gout: Inflammatory Arthritis Disorder



Table of Contents

Introduction3

Signs and Symptoms3

Predisposing factors4

Environmental and lifestyle factors5

Clinical Evaluation5

Diagnosis6

Treatment6

Prognosis7

Areas of on-Going Research8

References9

Gout: Inflammatory Arthritis Disorder

Introduction

Gout is a disorder that is most common inflammatory arthritis disorder in the U.S., claiming three to five million sufferers and is further increasing. Furthermore, it accounts for an estimate 3.9 million visits to physicians (Michelle, 2010). Gout is actually a progressive chronic disease that results from the dispositions of urate crystals, which in turn is caused by the under excretion or overproduction of uric acid. It is simply caused by the access of uric acid, a substance which results from breakdown of purines. The urate crystals formed are deposited in the joints which cause gout.

There are two basic types of Gout, primary and secondary. The primary gout is inherited and results from under excretion or over production of uric acid. The secondary gout is caused by the increased levels of uric acid due to the chronic kidney failure, medications or rapid destruction of cells.

Signs and Symptoms

Gout is a type of arthritis, and accounts for 5% of all cases of arthritis. In most cases, gout affects the big toe's joint, however, many other areas around and joints in addition can be affected. These include wrists, ankles, heels, knees, elbows and fingers. The deposition of uric acid appears in the form of lumps surrounding the joints. Increased uric acid level might be reflecting in the high levels of it in urine and can even result in kidney stones.

The disease can progress through four different stages each with its own symptoms.

Asymptomatic (without symptoms) hyperuricemia, in this stage the patient has simply high levels of uric acid in the blood which is known as hyperuricemia, however, no other symptoms arise and no treatment is required.

Acute gout or acute gouty arthritis, this stage is characterized by pain and swelling in the affected joints due to the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint spaces. An acute event mostly occurs in night and can be triggered by another illness, stressful event or drug and alcohol use. The attack can subside for 3 to 10 days, ad next attack may come in months or even years, however, they increasingly becoming more prolong and frequent.

Interval or intercritical gout is the third stage which is the period between the acute attacks, during which a person does not feel any symptom.

Chronic tophaceous gout, this is the fourth stage and is considered the most disabling stage, develops over a long period of time. This stage is characterized by permanent damage to the joint and sometimes to kidney as well.

Predisposing factors

There are certain factors that increase the chances of having gout. These risk factors include the condition of Hyperuricemia the most (Rider et al., 2010). The list of these factors include obesity, infection, hypertension, surgery, diabetes mellitus, stress, alcohol consumption, high fructose foods, family history of gout, certain medications (e.g., aspirin, niacin, thiazide etc.), and organ transplantation.

Gout is more prevalent in men than women; figures reveal that only ...