Also called: Also called: Gouty arthritis
Gout is a common, painful form of arthritis. It causes swollen, red, hot and stiff joints. Gout occurs when uric acid builds up in your blood. This happens if your body produces extra acid or does not eliminate enough, or if you eat too many foods with purines, such as liver and dried beans. Pseudogout has similar symptoms and is sometimes confused with gout. However, it is caused by calcium phosphate, not uric acid.
Often, gout first attacks your big toe. It can also attack ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers and elbows.
You are more likely to get gout if you
- Are a man
- Have family member with gout
- Drink alcohol
At first, gout attacks usually get better in days. Eventually, attacks last longer and occur more often. Uric acid buildup can lead to kidney stones. Untreated gout can cause permanent joint and kidney damage. You can treat gout with medicines.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
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Gout
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/gout/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/goutspanish/htm/index.htm -
What Is Gout?
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Gout/gout_ff.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/Informacion_de_Salud/Gota/default.asp
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Gout(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/372.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/articles/372.printerview.html
- Gout(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/gout/DS00090/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Pseudogout(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/pseudogout/DS00717/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Pseudogout(American College of Rheumatology) - http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/pseudogout_new.asp?aud=pat
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Questions and Answers about Gout(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Gout/default.asp
- Uric Acid Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/uric_acid/test.html
- Arthritis Today's 2007 Drug Guide: Gout Drugs(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/DrugGuide/about_gout.asp
- Joint Injection/Aspiration(American College of Rheumatology) - http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/injection_new.asp?aud=pat
- Safe Foods for Gout(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/resources/arthritistoday/2003_archives/2003_09_10_oncall_p4.asp
- Glucosamine Supplements: Can They Worsen Gout Symptoms?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/gout/AN00983/METHOD=print
- Gout(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/gout.htm
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Gout(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/gout/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/goutspanish/htm/index.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Gout(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Gout%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Uric Acid(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Uric+Acid%22
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Genetics Home Reference: Lesch-Nyhan syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=leschnyhansyndrome
- Coffee May Lower Gout Risk(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/coffee-gout-risk.php
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Gout and coronary artery disease: epidemiologic clues. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18638434&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Non-crystalline and crystalline rheumatic disorders in chronic kidney disease. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18638433&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Therapeutic challenges in the management of gout in the elderly. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18593209&tool=MedlinePlus
- Gout -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(gout[mh]+OR+(chondrocalcinosis[majr]+AND+diagnosis,+differential[mh]))+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+systematic[sb])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- American College of Rheumatology: Geographic Membership Directory(American College of Rheumatology) - http://www.rheumatology.org/directory/geo.asp
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Arthritis Foundation - http://www.arthritis.org/
Also available in Spanish http://ww2.arthritis.org/Espanol/default.asp
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
- Women Get Gout, Too(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/resources/arthritistoday/2005_archives/2005_11_12/2005_11_12_Women_Gout.asp
- Arthritis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/arthritis.html
- Bones, Joints and Muscles - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonesjointsandmuscles.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Gout is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/