If you are like many Americans, you may have wondered about Gout. What is it? Gout is
precipitation of mono sodium urate crystals into tissue, usually in and around joints, most often
causing recurrent auto or chronic arthritis.

New Orleans Coroner, Dr. Dwight McKenna, says acute arthritis often involves the first
metatarsophalangeal (joint pain) to include these symptoms: acute pain, tenderness, warmth,
redness and swelling.

The prevalence of gout is going up around the world. It has increased 100 percent over the
last 30-years, outstripping world population growth and life expectancy. In the United States,
an estimated 5% of adults, or 12 million, have gout. Globally, the number affected exceeds 50
million.

The patient demographics associated with gout have also expanded. Once seen
primarily in flashy, middle-aged men of privilege, gout affects more women, more adults at
either end of the age spectrum, and more people in Third World countries than ever before.

Current drugs:

Although urate-lowering drugs form the cornerstone of gout therapy, there are only three oral
medications available in the United States currently, and all have significant limitations:
– Allopurinol
– Uloric
– Probenecid

By lowering excessive levels of serum urate, current therapies slow the formation of mono
sodium urate crystals that precipitate within joints and soft tissues, inducing a highly
inflammatory local response with superimposed systemic inflammation. These therapies
reduce the frequency of excruciatingly painful gout flares.

Orleans Parish Coroner, Dr. Dwight McKenna, says if you notice any of these signs, consult a
physician.