Gout is a metabolic disorder caused by uric acid crystal deposition in joints due to purine metabolism issues. It typically presents as sudden severe pain in the big toe joint. Chronic gout results in urate salt deposits called tophi in tissues. Treatment involves NSAIDs and colchicines for acute flares and allopurinol or probenecid to reduce uric acid levels long-term. Pseudo-gout involves calcium crystal deposition rather than uric acid, though symptoms are similar.

1. Gout and Pseudo Gout

2. Gout
• Gout is a metabolic disorder manifesting in the primary or
secondary forms characterized by hyperuricaemia and joint
lesions.
• Primary gout: It occurs in conditions where there are no
obvious causes for hyperuricaemia such as drugs and
myeloproliferative disorders.
• Secondary gout: It occurs in conditions causing secondary
hyperuricaemia.

3. Aetiopathology
• Gout is a disease due to an inborn error of uric acid
(purine) metabolism.
• In this condition, sodium urate crystals are deposited on
the articular cartilage, synovial membrane and in the
periarticular tissues such as tendons and bursae.
• This provokes an inflammatory reaction in these tissues.
• These deposits often increase in size and burst through the
skin to form sinuses discharging a chalky white material.

4. Clinical Features
• It occurs mostly in men, in the third or fourth decade of life.
The condition may present clinically as an acute attack or as
chronic gout.
• The most commonly affected joint in acute gout is the
metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe.
• The attack is characterized by a sudden onset of excruciating pain
at night with marked swelling and redness of the joint of the big
toe.
• The attack may subside in about a week. The arthritis shows
remissions and exacerbations and gradually becomes chronic.

5. • In the chronic stage of the disease, there is a deposition of
urate salts (SUM) in the periarticular tissues of the involved
joint or in the subcutaneous tissues of the ear or in the olecranon
bursa.
• These lumps are called gouty tophi. It also occurs in the knee.
• After a few attacks, the patient may have persistent pain in some
joints and the joints develop features of secondary
osteoarthrosis. Other features are the formation of urate
calculi in the kidneys with colic and hematuria ending in
renal failure.

6. Laboratory Findings
• The main finding is the raised level of serum uric acid
from the normal of 3-6 mg%.
• The synovial fluid will show the typical slender needle-
shaped urate crystals negatively birefringent on
examination under the polarised microscope.

7. Radiological Features
• Radiographs in the chronic stage may show
the characteristic punched-out appearance
at the periphery of the articular cartilage in
the metatarsophalangeal joints.
• Tophi may be seen as radio-opaque shadows
in the periarticular tissues.
• In later stages, degenerative changes will be
seen in the joints with narrowing of joint
spaces and sclerosis.

8. Treatment
• Rest is given to the joint.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin in high doses
are given. Colchicine is a specific drug for acute gout.
• Drugs are given either to diminish the formation of uric acid
(Allopurinol) or to act as uricosuric agents to increase the
excretion of uric acid in the urine (Probenecid).
• At the acute stage, the joint is rested in a splint.
• Large gouty tophi may need surgical curetting or excision.

9. Treatment of gout can be summarized as follows:
• Acute gout: NSAIDs and Colchicine
• Chronic gout: Allopurinol and Probenecid and NSAIDs
• Tophaceous gout: Excision of tophi, if necessary

10. Secondary Gout
• Serum uric acid may be high whenever there is excessive
destruction of cells and their nuclei as in multiple myeloma,
leukaemia and other malignant diseases.
• This is found during the chemotherapeutic treatment of
malignant tumours with cytotoxic drugs.
• The joint condition in such cases is called secondary gout.

11. Pseudo-Gout
• Pseudo-gout is a form of arthritis due to deposition of
crystals of calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate in the
synovium or the articular cartilage or menisci.
• Clinically, the acute attacks resemble gout but the serum
uric acid level is normal.
• The knee is the most common joint involved.

12. • Radiograph shows calcified spots in the menisci and
articular cartilage.
• The synovial effusion shows rhomboid-shaped crystals,
positively birefringent under the polarized microscope.
The treatment consists of the following:
• Rest to the joint
• High-dose NSAIDs
• Aspiration of the joint and corticosteroid injection

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