Gout Complications

Gout is a complex and painful disorder that occurs when sharp uric acid crystals form in joints. Uric acid usually dissolves in your blood, passing through your kidneys to be excreted via your urine. When this acid builds up in your blood, it forms painful crystals that causes swelling in joints.

Risk Factors

• Certain factors tend to increase the levels of uric acid in your body, causing gout. Medical conditions like hypertension and diabetes, excessive alcohol use and family history can all increase your likelihood of developing gout.

Complications

• Untreated gout can lead to more frequent and longer lasting attacks, affecting more joints. After many years, you may develop a condition called tophi in which uric acid crystals form lumps under the skin of the toes, fingers and elbows.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of a gout attack may occur suddenly, usually at night, and cause the affected joint to become red and feel hot and painful. Left untreated, the pain can last anywhere from a week to 10 days before finally stopping.

Diagnosis

• A few tests your doctor may perform in order to diagnose gout include a joint fluid test and blood test. A joint fluid test involves checking a sample of joint fluid for crystals, and a blood test will measure the levels of uric acid present.

Treatments

• Treatment for gout generally involves treating the pain and inflammation that occurs during an attack with medications, such as pain relievers and anti-inflammatories.