Diagnosing Gout
Gout, a type of arthritis, occurs when too much of a
substance called uric acid builds up in the blood; this condition is also
called hyperuricemia. Uric acid can come from the breakdown of old cells and
from certain foods and drinks. If too much uric acid is produced, or if it
isn’t properly excreted, it can form tiny crystals that are deposited in soft
tissues and joints. For this reason, gout is called a “crystal deposit
disease.”
Gout Diagnosis: The
Importance of Getting It Right
Many types of inflammatory arthritis,
including gout, produce hot, stiff, inflamed, and painful joints.
But just because someone has these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s
gout.
It is vital that a patient gets a proper
diagnosis, says Lawrence Brent, MD, head of the division of rheumatology at the
Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia: “Gout is a chronic disease and
can lead to long-term damage.”