Gout News

In this episode, explore data from the major study proving uric acid crystals are present in the synovial fluid of patients with gout, as well as the tale of two rheumatologists who injected their own knees (while still working in the hospital) with uric acid to prove it is the trigger for inflammation in gout. The episode finishes with some ripping yarns about the history of the medications we use to treat this condition.

More than 50% of adults aged 45 years or older with some form of arthritis are currently going untreated, despite a substantial proportion experiencing severe symptoms and poor physical function, according to data published in the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology.

The use of wearable devices that track movement is effective in significantly increasing the amount of and time spent performing moderate to vigorous physical activity, with high short-term adherence, among patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, according to findings published in Arthritis Care & Research.

Among patients with gout, treatment with at least 300 mg allopurinol daily was associated with a 13% reduced risk for kidney function decline, according to data published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Do you know the etymology of the word “gout,” or how a simple microscope aided in the identification of tophi? Join me as I explore the history of this inflammatory arthritis and highlight the important scientists who shaped the modern era of gout.

Asymptomatic hyperuricemia is common among healthy middle-aged individuals and linked to an increased risk for gout in men and women, according to findings published in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea experience an increased risk for gout beyond the first year following the initial apnea diagnosis, with individuals with normal BMI at greater risk than those who are underweight or obese, according to findings published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Canakinumab administered every 3 months at varying dosages was linked to a significantly reduced risk for gout attacks, without changing concentrations of serum uric acid, according to new data from the CANTOS trial published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Individuals with chronic inflammatory diseases continuously fight several adversaries, including pain, loss of functionality and complications due to treatment. Women of childbearing age who wish to start families can add two more opponents to that list: fear and misinformation.

The 2018 Rheumatic Disease Report Card: Raising the Grade on Rheumatology Care in America released today by the American College of Rheumatology demonstrates that access to affordable rheumatology care varied considerably from state to state, with most states averaging a “C” grade.