Gout

Gout is a common and intensely painful form of inflammatory arthritis caused by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints and surrounding tissues. It occurs when uric acid levels in the blood become elevated (hyperuricaemia), leading to crystal formation.

Gout affects approximately 2.5% of adults in the UK and is more common in men, though it becomes more prevalent in women after menopause. Risk factors include diet (red meat, seafood, alcohol, sugary drinks), obesity, kidney disease, certain medications, and genetic predisposition.

Acute gout typically presents as sudden, severe joint pain — often in the big toe — with marked swelling, redness, and warmth. Attacks often begin at night and can be extremely debilitating. Without proper management, attacks can become more frequent and affect multiple joints.

Dr Das provides comprehensive gout management including accurate diagnosis (joint aspiration and crystal analysis when appropriate), acute attack treatment, and long-term urate-lowering therapy to prevent recurrent attacks. The target serum urate level is below 300 μmol/L for patients with established gout.

Long-term management focuses on urate-lowering therapy (typically allopurinol or febuxostat), lifestyle modifications, and regular monitoring. With proper treatment, gout is one of the most treatable forms of arthritis, and attacks can be completely prevented.