Current concepts in the treatment of gouty arthritis

Abstract

Gouty arthritis is an extremely painful condition that causes functional impairment. Gouty arthritis has become increasingly complex because of multiple comorbidities, iatrogenic factors and hyperuricemia that is refractory to treatment. In this review, we present a general overview of gouty arthritis including its pathophysiology, clinical presentations, diagnosis, predisposing factors and prophylactic therapy for preventing gouty arthritis flares.

Figure 1

(A) Photographs of both feet of a male patient with gouty arthritis showing joint abnormalities and subcutaneous tophi (arrows) in multiple joints; and (B) Intraoperative photograph showing the presence of intracellular MSU crystals in a joint of the right foot.

Figure 2

An anteroposterior X‐ray film showing tophus formation and bone destruction of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in a female patient with gouty arthritis.