Gout: Comprehensive Medical Overview & Clinical Guidance
*Introduction - Gout is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in joints and soft tissues, resulting from prolonged hyperuricemia. It is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis in adults and represents a significant burden on quality of life and healthcare systems. Gout is both treatable and preventable, yet it remains underdiagnosed and undertreated in many parts of the world. --- Etiology and Risk Factors 1. Hyperuricemia Hyperuricemia, defined as serum urate levels >6.8 mg/dL (the solubility limit of urate in plasma), is the fundamental biochemical abnormality in gout. Not all individuals with hyperuricemia develop gout, but virtually all patients with gout have hyperuricemia at some point. 2. Causes of Hyperuricemia Hyperuricemia arises either from increased production or decreased excretion of uric acid. A. Increased Production High purine diet: Red meat, organ meats, shellfish Increased cell turnover: Hematologic ...