Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011 Jul;38(7):1458-61.
doi: 10.3899/jrheum.110272.

Tophus measurement as an outcome measure for clinical trials of chronic gout: progress and research priorities

Nicola Dalbeth  1 , Fiona M McQueen, Jasvinder A Singh, Patricia A MacDonald, N Lawrence Edwards, H Ralph Schumacher Jr, Lee S Simon, Lisa K Stamp, Tuhina Neogi, Angelo L Gaffo, Puja P Khanna, Michael A Becker, William J Taylor
Affiliations

Tophus measurement as an outcome measure for clinical trials of chronic gout: progress and research priorities

Nicola Dalbeth et al. J Rheumatol. 2011 Jul.

Abstract

Despite the recognition that tophus regression is an important outcome measure in clinical trials of chronic gout, there is no agreed upon method of tophus measurement. A number of methods have been used in clinical trials of chronic gout, from simple physical measurement techniques to more complex advanced imaging methods. This article summarizes methods of tophus measurement and discusses their properties. Physical measurement using Vernier calipers meets most aspects of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) filter. Rigorous testing of the complex methods, particularly with respect to reliability and sensitivity to change, is needed to determine the appropriate use of these methods. Further information is also required regarding which method of physical measurement is best for use in future clinical trials. The need to develop and test a patient-reported outcome measure of tophus burden is also highlighted.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Dalbeth N, Pool B, Gamble GD, Smith T, Callon KE, McQueen FM, et al. Cellular characterization of the gouty tophus: a quantitative analysis. Arthritis Rheum. 2010;62:1549–56. - PubMed
    1. Dalbeth N, Clark B, Gregory K, Gamble G, Sheehan T, Doyle A, et al. Mechanisms of bone erosion in gout: a quantitative analysis using plain radiography and computed tomography. Ann Rheum Dis. 2009;68:1290–5. - PubMed
    1. Dalbeth N, Collis J, Gregory K, Clark B, Robinson E, McQueen FM. Tophaceous joint disease strongly predicts hand function in patients with gout. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2007;46:1804–7. - PubMed
    1. Taylor WJ, Schumacher HR, Jr, Baraf HS, Chapman P, Stamp L, Doherty M, et al. A modified Delphi exercise to determine the extent of consensus with OMERACT outcome domains for studies of acute and chronic gout. Ann Rheum Dis. 2008;67:888–91. - PubMed
    1. Schumacher HR, Taylor W, Edwards L, Grainger R, Schlesinger N, Dalbeth N, et al. Outcome domains for studies of acute and chronic gout. J Rheumatol. 2009;36:2342–5. - PubMed

Publication types

Substances