TY - JOUR
T1 - Crystals of pain
T2 - navigating gout and its management
AU - Vambe, S. D.
AU - McHavi, C. V.
AU - Hough, E.
AU - Bronkhorst, E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Authors.
PY - 2024/9/1
Y1 - 2024/9/1
N2 - Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis, caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, especially the big toe. If left untreated these tophi, or crystals can become extremely painful, and over time may result in damage to bone and soft tissue. It is important to get a correct diagnosis on gout and to differentiate with other diseases like septic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and even stress fractures. Non-pharmacological treatment and prevention strategies include sufficient rest and adequate dietary and lifestyle modifications. The management of gout distinguishes between treatment for acute gout symptoms and the prevention of a gout attack or the lowering of uric acid in the serum. Urate-lowering therapy, like allopurinol and febuxostat, lowers blood urate levels, can prevent gout flare-ups and diminishes tophi over time. Treatment with one or more potent anti-inflammatory medication is necessary for the management of acute flares. Four categories of medicine are available for treatment of acute symptoms of pain and inflammation. They include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, corticosteroids, colchicine, and anti-IL-1β biologics. Efficacy between these agents is similar, thus focus should be on minimising individual risks. People with a tendency to develop gout must limit their consumption of red meat, fish, shellfish and alcohol, particularly those that have additional purines such as beer, wine and whiskey.
AB - Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis, caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, especially the big toe. If left untreated these tophi, or crystals can become extremely painful, and over time may result in damage to bone and soft tissue. It is important to get a correct diagnosis on gout and to differentiate with other diseases like septic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and even stress fractures. Non-pharmacological treatment and prevention strategies include sufficient rest and adequate dietary and lifestyle modifications. The management of gout distinguishes between treatment for acute gout symptoms and the prevention of a gout attack or the lowering of uric acid in the serum. Urate-lowering therapy, like allopurinol and febuxostat, lowers blood urate levels, can prevent gout flare-ups and diminishes tophi over time. Treatment with one or more potent anti-inflammatory medication is necessary for the management of acute flares. Four categories of medicine are available for treatment of acute symptoms of pain and inflammation. They include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, corticosteroids, colchicine, and anti-IL-1β biologics. Efficacy between these agents is similar, thus focus should be on minimising individual risks. People with a tendency to develop gout must limit their consumption of red meat, fish, shellfish and alcohol, particularly those that have additional purines such as beer, wine and whiskey.
KW - allopurinol
KW - colchicine
KW - gout
KW - urate-lowering therapy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85203249995&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.36303/SAPJ.0810
DO - 10.36303/SAPJ.0810
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85203249995
SN - 2221-5875
VL - 91
SP - 26
EP - 32
JO - SA Pharmaceutical Journal
JF - SA Pharmaceutical Journal
IS - 4
ER -