FirstMed Consulting Blog

Causes and Risk Factors
Gout is caused by the build-up of uric acid in the joints. Approximately 18% of people who develop gout have a family history of the condition, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Diseases and conditions such as diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, and sickle cell anaemia can all increase the risk of developing gout.
Drinking alcohol regularly interferes with the removal of uric acid from the body and can increase the risk for developing gout. Other risk factors include the following:

* Exposure to lead in the environment
* High dietary intake of rich foods that contain purine (e.g., cream sauces, red meat, sardines, liver, scallops)
* Medications that may interfere with the body’s ability to remove uric acid (e.g., aspirin, diuretics, levodopa [used to treat Parkinson’s disease])

Cyclosporine (e.g., Gengraf®), which is a medication used to suppress the body’s immune system and prevent rejection after organ transplant, also increases the risk for developing gout.

Signs and Symptoms
Gout usually develops in the joint of the first toe (i.e., the big toe, or hallux). Common symptoms include the following:

* Inflammation
* Pain
* Redness
* Stiffness
* Swelling

Touching or moving the toe may be extremely painful and patients often complain saying that having as much as a bed sheet over the toe increases the pain. Symptoms of gout develop quickly (sometimes in within a day) and typically occur in only one joint at a time. However, although rare, symptoms can develop in two or three joints simultaneously. If widespread symptoms occur, the condition is probably not gout. If left untreated, gout can damage joints and can result in disability.