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Gout

Information for health

professionals on gout

Gout is one of the most common forms of arthritis or inflammation of a joint. It most commonly affects the big toe joint (first metatarsophalangeal joint), but can affect any joint. Gout usually starts as an acute attack that often comes on overnight. Within 12-24 hours there is usually severe pain and swelling in the joint.
 
Screw up the vise as tightly as possible - you have rheumatism; give it another turn, and it is gout” - Anonymous
 

Symptoms of Gout:

Gout usually only affects one joint at a time (sometimes two) - most often the feet and ankles. The joint at the base of the big toe is the most common site. If there is no treatment the gout attack usually subsides in a week or so. After the first attack there may be intervals of many months or even years before there are other attacks. Over time these attacks tend to become more frequent and more severe and eventually may involve other and more joints. Eventually, without treatment, a state of chronic or continuous joint symptoms may develop with progressive joint damage.

Gout mostly affects men and is very rare in women until after menopause when it is seen quite often.

Gout is very painful. The joint becomes swollen and the skin over the joint can be shiny or glossy in appearance.

 

Cause of Gout:

The cause of gout is related to the physiology of uric acid, which is a chemical that is a natural part of the normal breaking down and building up of food and body tissues. When uric acid levels are higher, this is known as hyperuricaemia. Uric acid is normally dissolved in the blood, but when its high, microscopic crystals may be deposited in the joint. These crystals then set up the acute inflammation causes the gout.

As a result of this physiology, gout is common in those with hyperuricaemia. There are many causes of this and include:

  • Some people just have higher levels and is hereditary.
  • Obesity.
  • High alcohol intake .
  • High intake of food that contain purines (purines are broken down into uric acid).
  • Some of the drugs used to treat high blood pressure can precipitate a gouty attack .
  • Those with kidney disease may also develop high levels of uric acid.

 

Gout treatment:

The mainstay of gout treatment is correcting the factors that lead to the high levels of uric acid. This involves a combination of diet and drugs.

The following foods have higher levels of purines should be restricted or avoided:

  • Offal foods like liver, kidneys, tripe, sweetbreads and tongue.
  • Large amounts of red meat.
  • Shellfish.
  • Peas. lentils and beans.
  • Alcohol intake should be reduced.

Being overweight is a risk factor, so weight loss may be very important. High blood pressure (hypertension) is also a risk factor that your doctor may need to address.

When an acute attack of gout occurs, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's) are usually very effective to help gain control of the gout symptoms in the first 12-24 hours (these drugs have no effect at lowering uric acid levels). Rest and elevation of the foot is also important.

Over the longer term, if diet changes are not lowering the uric acid levels, drugs can be used to lower the levels (these drugs have no effect during an acute attack). The drugs must be taken on a continuous and long term basis if they are to be effective. There are basically two kinds of drugs - one increases the elimination of uric acid by the kidneys and the others block the formation of uric acid.

Self management of gout:

There are a number of thing that you can do to help yourself manage gout:

  • Take your medication as instructed by your doctor
  • Reduce weight
  • Take dietary advice to lower your intake of purines
 

Gout complications

If the uric acid levels have been high for a long time and acute attacks of gout has been frequent, there may be deposits of uric acid around the affected joint (and even elsewhere such as the ears) - these are called tophi. If they are present, there is an even greater need for long term drug treatment to lower the uric acid levels.
 

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ePodiatry is purely a source of information on gout, and should at no time be considered as replacing the expertise of a health professional. We recommend seeking professional advice for gout and all foot problems before embarking on any form of self treatment or management of the gout. Neither the content or any other service provided through ePodiatry is intended to be relied on for medical diagnosis or treatment. Do not delay in seeking health professional advice for gout because of something seen on ePodiatry.
 
©2003. The information contained on this page about gout is subject to copyright. No part of the information about gout contained on this page be reproduced in any form without the permission of ePodiatry.

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