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Gout: Current Considerations, Alexandria Fappiano, Wilson Crone

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Gout is a treatable chronic inflammatory condition that can cause severe joint pain and disfigurement. Commonly, it affects the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint as a monoarticular process. It is typically caused by hyperuricemia and genetic mutations of the uricase gene. Gout is definitively diagnosed with the presence of negative birefringent needle-shaped crystals in the synovial fluid of the affected joint. Classically, seafood and alcohol are risk factors for developing gout. However, given current population trends, obesity is another major risk factor. While weight loss is the best conservative management, medications can also be used to manage gout. The treatment is …