Musculoskeletal Health - Gout Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is gout?
A type of arthritis caused by deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joints, leading to acute inflammation.
What joint is most commonly affected by gout?
The 1st metatarsophalangeal joint (big toe).
What are typical symptoms of a gout attack?
Pain, swelling, redness, shiny skin, heat, and sometimes fever and malaise.
What is the key risk factor for gout?
Hyperuricaemia — elevated uric acid levels.
What causes uric acid overproduction?
High purine diet, high cell turnover (e.g., leukaemia), chemotherapy, and fructose.
What causes underexcretion of uric acid?
CKD, alcohol, medications (diuretics, aspirin), dehydration, obesity, insulin resistance, and genetics (ABCG2 SNPs).
What is the gold standard for diagnosing gout?
Synovial joint microscopy showing urate crystals.
Does high uric acid alone confirm a diagnosis of gout?
No — hyperuricaemia alone does not equal gout.
What conventional medications are used for gout?
Allopurinol (XO inhibitor) for prevention; NSAIDs and colchicine for acute attacks.
What are the key dietary recommendations in gout?
Avoid alcohol, fructose, trans fats, high purine foods; increase hydration and omega-3 intake.
Name low-purine foods.
White bread/pasta, fruit, most vegetables, eggs, dairy, most oils.
Name moderate-purine foods.
Barley, peanuts, cashews, most fish, poultry, lentils, chickpeas, mushrooms, broccoli.
Name high-purine foods.
Game meats, organ meats, fish roe, scallops, sardines, anchovies, meat and yeast extracts.
Why avoid letting feet get cold during gout?
Uric acid is less soluble in cold, leading to crystal formation in joints like the toes.
What is the use of castor oil packs in gout?
Anti-inflammatory; improves circulation when applied warm over joints.
How does quercetin help in gout?
Inhibits XO, promotes urate excretion, targets IL-1β and NLRP3 pathways, and is antioxidant.
How does EPA help in gout?
Inhibits URAT1 to increase urate excretion and reduces inflammation (NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-6).
What is methyl folate’s role in gout?
Inhibits XO and supports uric acid clearance with high dietary folate.
How does tart cherry extract benefit gout?
Lowers uric acid, inhibits COX and NF-κB, and reduces oxidative stress.
What are the benefits of celery in gout?
Reduces XO activity and inflammation; apigenin and flavonoids lower uric acid.
What does nettle (Urtica dioica) do in gout?
Acts as a diuretic and alkaliser, increasing uric acid excretion via urine.
