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Gout

See also in: Cellulitis DDx,Nail and Distal Digit
Contributors: Abhijeet Waghray MD, Belinda Tan MD, PhD, Paritosh Prasad MD
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Synopsis

Gout is caused by body fluid urate saturation complicated by deposition of monosodium urate crystals in tissues. Elevated uric acid levels can be caused by overproduction of uric acid from purine catabolism or insufficient excretion by the kidneys and are necessary but not sufficient for the development of gout. The deposition of urate crystals in tissues leads to inflammation and subsequent tissue damage. The most common sites involved are the skin and joints. Gout can present as acute gouty arthritis or chronic tophaceous gout. Patients may also develop uric acid nephrolithiasis.

The acute form of gout presents as a painful, swollen, warm, and erythematous joint, usually monoarticular, with the most common joints affected being the first metatarsophalangeal joint, ankle, foot, and knee. The pain can be debilitating. Flares can last days to weeks if untreated and can become more severe and more frequent over time.

Chronic tophaceous gout presents most commonly involving the ear but can also affect other soft tissues, articular structures, bursas, or tendons. Smooth or multilobulated nodules can ulcerate, leading to extrusion of a chalk-like substance. Rarely, urate bullae may develop. In uncontrolled chronic gout, there may be frequent acute attacks that lead to destructive arthritis and joint deformity.

Men aged 40-50 are most commonly affected. Other risk factors include renal insufficiency, obesity, increased alcohol consumption, medications (eg, diuretics), lymphomas, leukemias, tumor lysis syndrome, and hemolysis as well as lead exposure (eg, from illegally distilled liquor, or "moonshine"; known colloquially as "saturnine gout").

Codes

ICD10CM:
M10.9 – Gout, unspecified

SNOMEDCT:
90560007 – Gout

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Last Reviewed:07/08/2018
Last Updated:06/19/2023
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Patient Information for Gout
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Gout
See also in: Cellulitis DDx,Nail and Distal Digit
A medical illustration showing key findings of Gout : Ankle pain, Foot pain, Hyperuricemia, Joint swelling, Joint tenderness, Smooth nodule, Toe pain
Clinical image of Gout - imageId=48739. Click to open in gallery.  caption: 'Erythematous nodule over the lateral distal interphalangeal joint.'
Erythematous nodule over the lateral distal interphalangeal joint.
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