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Kidney Stone Precautions for Gouty Arthritis

Gouty arthritis, usually known simply as gout, is a condition in which uric acid crystals collect in a joint, often a toe joint, causing inflammation and extreme pain. Gout develops as a consequence of elevated uric acid levels in the body, a condition known as hyperuricemia. Excess uric acid also can contribute to the formation of kidney stones, which in turn can compromise the kidneys' ability to excrete uric acid, further exacerbating the problem.

  1. Uric Acid

    • The culprit behind gout and kidney stones, as well as other less widely seen conditions, is too much uric acid in your bloodstream. Uric acid is formed by the body to help process purines, which are found in a variety of foods. However, your elevated uric acid levels are not just a product of what you eat but also of the efficiency---or lack thereof---of the kidneys in eliminating uric acid from the body.

      If a blood test reveals that your uric acid levels are abnormally high, you run a very real risk of developing gout and/or kidney stones. Normal uric acid levels for men are 3.4 to 7.0 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) and 2.4 to 6.0 mg/dL for women, according to chemocare.com.

    If Gout Strikes

    • More often than not, you may discover that you have hyperuricemia when you experience an attack of gout. That will be a clear signal that steps must be taken to lower your uric acid levels to reduce your chances of additional gout attacks and to lower the chances for the development of kidney stones. Although uric acid crystals are one cause of kidney stones, there are others unrelated to uric acid.

    High-Purine Foods

    • If you are diagnosed with hyperuricemia, be aware that while the condition is not wholly a reflection of your diet, eliminating or minimizing your consumption of high-purine foods can help to lower uric acid levels. According to healthcastle.com, such foods include game meats, such as venison; sweetbreads, the edible glands of animals; anchovies, herring, mackerel, sardines and scallops; organ meats--such as beef kidneys and brains--and meat extracts. You also should limit your consumption of the following foods: asparagus, cauliflower, dried peas and beans, green peas, lentils, mushrooms, spinach, beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish, oatmeal, wheat bran, wheat germ and alcoholic beverages.

    Medications

    • Dietary modifications can get you started on a program to lower uric acid levels, but such steps are unlikely to completely resolve the problem. Consult with your doctor, who can prescribe medications to reduce or prevent abnormally high levels of uric acid, according to an article in American Family Physician magazine. These medications include uricosuric agents, available under the brand names of Probalan and Anturane, which help the kidneys to dispose of excess uric acid; allopurinol (Zyloprim), which reduces the body's production of uric acid; and colchicine, which blocks the inflammation caused by uric acid crystals.

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