Overview
Gout is a disease caused by the buildup of uric acid in the joints. It results from an elevated blood level of uric acid (hyperuricemia), which occurs when the liver produces more uric acid than the body can excrete in the urine, or when a diet high in rich foods (e.g., red meat, cream sauces, red wine) produces more uric acid than the kidneys can filter from the blood.
Over time, uric acid in the blood crystallizes and settles in the joint spaces, causing swelling, inflammation, stiffness, and pain.
Gout usually affects the first metatarsal phalangeal joint of the big toe (hallux) or the ankle joints.
Incidence and Prevalence
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), gout affects approximately 2.1 million people in the United States. The disease is more common in men between the ages of 40 and 50, and in women, incidence increases after menopause. The condition is rare in children and young adults.Podiatrist-developed and -monitored.
Original Date of Publication: 01 Jan 2000
Reviewed by: John J. Swierzewski, D.P.M., Stanley J. Swierzewski, III, M.D.
Last Reviewed: 26 Jun 2007
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