Gout is a metabolic disease where there is too much uric acid in the body. The excess amounts of uric acid precipitate in the joints causing inflammation (arthritis). Uric acid is the final product of metabolism of the purines building elements of the nucleic acids (DNA and RNA)). Excessive amounts of uric acid can be due either to increased production of purines or decreased excretion of the uric acid through the kidneys. In most cases, gout is caused by a genetic defect (primary gout). In the minority of cases, however, gout is due to another disease (secondary gout) such as leukemia or chronic renal failure.
Therapy of gout includes medicaments and diet.
Medicaments used for treating gout are: anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID (indometacine…), colchicine, and corticosteroids); anti-metabolites of uric acid (allopurinol), and uric acid’s excretory drugs (probenecid, anturan).
Dietary changes include avoiding food that contains purines (meat, fish, inner organs…). People diagnosed with gout should also avoid consuming coffee and alcohol. Decreasing body mass, daily intake of 2-3 liters liquids and avoiding mental-physical stresses is also recommended.