I have seen two such articles about gout flares increasing in the spring - one in the US and one in England. The British doctor and I both share the suspicion that the connection is sleep apnea. Pollen inflames the lining of the airway so that it is more likely to close for many seconds at a time when the muscles relax during sleep, which is sleep apnea. The oxygen deprivation during these periods causes the cells to generate excess uric acid and makes the blood more acidic so that it can hold less uric acid in solution. The result is that uric acid precipitates as urate crystals, which cause gout when they lodge in a joint.

Your gout is a warning that you may have sleep apnea, which if left untreated can result in many much more serious consequences. Heed the warning, and make sure that you don't have sleep apnea!