Management of Gout Often Requires Multiple Medications
Gout is among the most common causes of acute monoarticular arthritis. Most of the drugs prescribed to treat the condition were used before the introduction of modern clinical trials. Thus, although most of the drugs used in the treatment of gout have been proven to be clinically useful, there are few well-designed studies available to evaluate these drugs.
Acute gout can usually be easily managed when diagnosis and treatment are prompt. NSAIDs are usually the first choice for treating acute attacks. Colchicine is often used to prevent recurrences and can be discontinued, if the serum urate level is controlled, after the patient has been free of acute attacks for 1 to 3 months. Many patients with gout require long term therapy with xanthine oxidase inhibitors or uricosuric agents. Education of patients with gout about early treatment and avoidance of precipitating factors could lead to a better overall outcome.
Gout is among the most common causes of acute monoarticular arthritis. Most of the drugs prescribed to treat the condition were used before the introduction of modern clinical trials. Thus, although most of the drugs used in the treatment of gout have been proven to be clinically useful, there are few well-designed studies available to evaluate these drugs.
Acute gout can usually be easily managed when diagnosis and treatment are prompt. NSAIDs are usually the first choice for treating acute attacks. Colchicine is often used to prevent recurrences and can be discontinued, if the serum urate level is controlled, after the patient has been free of acute attacks for 1 to 3 months. Many patients with gout require long term therapy with xanthine oxidase inhibitors or uricosuric agents. Education of patients with gout about early treatment and avoidance of precipitating factors could lead to a better overall outcome.