"What Are the Symptoms of an Acute Attack of Gout?"

Gout: A Metabolic Disease Caused by Purine Metabolism Disorder or Uric Acid Excretion Impairment

Gout is a metabolic disorder resulting from purine metabolism malfunctions or impaired uric acid excretion. Its clinical features include elevated serum uric acid levels, leading to the deposition of uric acid crystals in joints or other tissues, which triggers painful inflammatory reactions. In severe cases, renal insufficiency and other complications may arise.

I. Symptoms

1. Local Symptoms: During acute gout flares, patients primarily exhibit redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the affected joints and surrounding areas, accompanied by marked tenderness upon palpation.

2. Systemic Symptoms: Some patients may also experience fever, palpitations, restlessness, and in severe cases, elevated blood pressure and dyspnea.

II. Complications

1. Renal Complications: Hyperuricemia imposes an additional burden on the kidneys, predisposing individuals to renal diseases such as chronic interstitial nephritis and kidney stones.

2. Cardiovascular Complications: Prolonged hyperuricemia can damage vascular endothelium, facilitating the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. This, in turn, affects cardiac blood supply, contributing to the development of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases.

Upon diagnosis of gout, it is crucial to actively collaborate with healthcare professionals to manage the condition, preventing further deterioration and its adverse effects on overall health. Additionally, maintaining a balanced diet rich in low-purine foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables like apples, cucumbers, and tomatoes, while avoiding high-purine foods like seafood, animal livers, and soy products, is essential.