Interní Med. 2016; 18(3): 137-141 | DOI: 10.36290/int.2016.032

Hyperuricaemia and gouty arthropathy: diagnosis and treatment

MUDr.Radka Svobodová

Revmatologický ústav Praha

Hyperuricaemia refers to a pathological increase in serum uric acid level. Long-lasting hyperuricaemia can lead to so-called gouty

arthropathy that is manifested by a response of the body to uric acid (sodium urate) crystal deposition in joints as well as soft

tissues. Hyperuricaemia can initially be asymptomatic; later on, it can present as acute gouty arthritis. When during sodium urate

crystal deposition in tissues and articular structures their destruction occurs, this is referred to as chronic arthropathic tophaceous

gout; when there is sodium urate deposition in the kidneys, it is called urate nephropathy. The diagnosis of gout is based on

clinical, laboratory, and radiological presentation and mainly on the demonstration of crystals under a polarised microscope. The

therapeutic target is to suppress ongoing inflammation and reduce pain intensity, maintain serum uric acid concentration below

360 μmol/l, remove sodium urate deposits from tissues, and prevent further gout attacks. For this purpose, non-pharmacological

and pharmacological strategies are used.

Keywords: hyperuricaemia, gouty arthritis, alopurinol, febuxostat

Published: July 1, 2016  Show citation