Current opinions on gout, its diagnosis and treatment

Gout is a heterogenous group of metabolic diseases characterized by formation and deposition of sodium urate crystals in various tissues. Gouty arthritis is a rheumatic syndrome occurring in individuals with hyperuricaemia; this is an inflammatory disease of the musculoskeletal system with a presence of sodium urate crystals. Hyperuricaemia, i.e. pathologically increased levels of uric acid in the serum, represents the most important risk factor for the development of gouty arthritis. The causes of hyperuricaemia may include an increased production of uric acid and/or its reduced elimination from the body. Acute gouty arthritis is an early manifestation of gouty arthritis. When deposition of sodium urate crystals in tissues leads to a destruction of musculoskeletal system structures, this is called chronic tophaceous gouty arthritis. To treat chronic tophaceous gout, the uric acid levels must be kept below 360 μmol/l, deposits of sodium urate in tissues dissolved and their further formation prevented. Pharmacological treatment of chronic hyperuricaemia involves administration of uric acid level lowering drugs, particularly xanthine oxidase inhibitors and uricosurics. Hyperuricaemia is an important risk factor not only for the development of chronic tophaceous gout and renal impairment but some data also suggests a risk associated with cardiovascular diseases.