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I heard an advertisement on the radio for gout sufferers. The message was for patients with gout that new treatment is now available with drugs approved by the FDA. I haven't had any gout for two years but I thought maybe I should check this out. Where can I get more information?
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Gout is a disease that involves the build-up of uric acid in the body. About 95 per cent of gout patients are men. Most men are over 50 when gout first appears. Women generally don't develop gout until after menopause. But some people develop gout at a young age.
Uric acid is a normal chemical in the blood that comes from the breakdown of other chemicals in the body tissues. Everyone has some uric acid in his blood. As your immune system tries to get rid of the crystals, inflammation develops. For the person with too much uric acid, this inflammation can cause painful arthritis.
Gout was the first disease in which researchers recognized that crystals in the synovial fluid could be the cause of joint pain. Synovial fluid is the fluid that the body produces to lubricate the joints. In gout, excess uric acid causes needle-shaped crystals to form in the synovial fluid.
More Americans are suffering from this problem than ever before. Finding safer and more effective ways to treat it has become the focus of new research these days. There are three ways to approach symptomatic gout. All focus on lowering uric acid levels in the body using medications. The first is to increase how much urate the kidneys send out of the body. The second is to keep uric acid from being formed in the first place. And the third introduces into the body the enzyme needed to break down the excess uric acid.
Most of the new drugs are still in the trial phase. Some have been approved for use by certain patients such as those who haven't been helped by traditional therapies. It sounds like you have your gout under good control. With no symptoms for two years, you are not a typical candidate for the newer agents. But to find out more about what is available and what you should take, see your rheumatologist for a review and update of your current management protocol.
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*Disclaimer:*The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. |
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