Gout as a Form of Arthritis

Whenever there is talk of Arthritis, the association with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis is most often drawn. However one of the oldest forms of Arthritis is still around and still as painful. Gout or gouty arthritis has been described since Hippocrates in the 5th century B.C. At one time the term Gout had the distinction of being used to describe all types of Arthritis. The association between gout and uric acid was known since the 19th century. However it wasn’t until scientists were able to understand the biochemistry of the uric acid production by the body in the 1960’s, that effective therapy for gout was discovered. Today Gout remains one of the most treatable forms of Arthritis.

Gout is one of the most painful rheumatic diseases. It comes in the form of acute arthritis that causes sudden and recurring attacks of severe pain and swelling in the joints. The most commonly affected joint is the big toe, even though other joints on the foot, leg, arms and hands can be affected. This is the results of deposits of needle-like crystals of uric acid in connective tissue, in the joint space between the two bones or in both. Gout is often characterized as an overload of uric acid in the body and recurring attacks of joint inflammation. The uric acid deposits can lead to inflammatory arthritis, which causes swelling, redness, heat, pain and stiffness in joints.