Gout

One of the thrilling aspects of scientific discovery is that it can come from almost anywhere, and almost anyone. Few individuals exemplify this like Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, who, despite having no formal education past the age of 16, went on to become what most consider to be the “Father of Microbiology.”

Maintaining a healthy BMI, adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, diet, and reductions in alcohol and diuretic use may significantly decrease the frequency of hyperuricemia and the subsequent development of gout, according to data published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

SAN DIEGO — Prolonged adherence to urate-lowering therapies is critical for patients to manage gout, yet only a fraction of patients receive the appropriate therapy, according to a presentation at the 2019 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology West.

Gout is associated with a 29% increased risk for developing advanced chronic kidney disease and a 210% increased risk for end-stage renal disease, according to data published in BMJ Open.

ORLANDO — Patients with uncontrolled gout are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease, diabetes and heart disease compared with those with controlled disease, according to a poster presentation at the 2019 Rheumatology Nurses Society Annual Conference.

Medication adherence for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, gout and osteoporosis was heavily influenced by the degree of trust patients had in their physician, as well as medication properties and patient capabilities, according to data published in Arthritis Care & Research.

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.

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.

Historical use of colchicine, or its precursors, dates back several thousand years, with reports appearing in records from ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Arabic physicians. Although colchicine has been used for centuries, formal FDA approval of the medication did not occur until 2009, which resulted in colchicine being considered a “new” drug and moving from an inexpensive generic drug to a much more expensive, branded drug with marketing exclusivity for 3 years.