Gout Causes- What Causes Gout?

Over time, increased uric acid levels in the blood may lead to deposits of urate crystals in and around the joints. These crystals can attract white blood cells, leading to severe, painful gout attacks and chronic arthritis. Uric acid deposits can also be found in the urinary tract, causing kidney stones.

Gout affects more than 3 million Americans. This condition and its complications occur more often in men, women after menopause, and people with kidney disease. Gout is strongly linked to obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol and triglycerides), and diabetes. Some other types of arthritis can mimic Gout; so proper diagnosis is the key. Health care providers suspect gout when a patient has swelling and intense pain in one or two joints, initially, followed by pain‐free times in between attacks. Early gout attacks often start at night. Diagnosis depends on finding the distinguishing crystals. The physician may use a needle to extract fluid from an affected joint and will study that fluid under a microscope to find whether urate crystals are present. Crystals also can be found in deposits (called tophi) that can appear under the skin. These tophi growths occur in advanced stages of gout. Uric Acid levels in the blood are important to measure, but can sometimes be misleading, especially if measured at the time of an acute attack. Levels may be normal for a short time or even low during attacks. Some may have increased uric acid levels, without the presence of Gout. X-rays may show joint damage in gout of long duration.