Gout Transitions from Medieval Times into the 21st Century
The Open Urology & Nephrology Journal
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11 Feb 2016 •
RESEARCH ARTICLE
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DOI: 10.2174/1874303X01609010022
Abstract
Gout is the most treatable arthritis in the Western World—the pathophysiology of which is related to uric acid metabolism and there are effective medications available to treat both acute arthritis and chronic hyperuricemia. Despite this many patients continue to suffer from tophaceous gout with major detrimental effects on patient-reported outcomes and substantial economic impact. Poor adherence to medications is considered an important attribute in developing disability due to gout. This review summarizes recommendations from various national and international guidelines with an update on the therapeutics.
Key Points
- NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors, corticosteroids, colchicine, and IL-1 inhibitors have strong evidence to suggest efficacy in the treatment of acute gout.
- Urate lowering therapy, with allopurinol or febuxostat as first line agents, is warranted for chronic management of gout.
- All guidelines recommend a ‘treat-to-target’ strategy to achieve serum urate of at least 6 mg/dL or lower.
Keywords: Allopurinol, corticosteroids, guidelines, gout, treatment update, urate lowering therapy.
