How would you approach the management of a patient with tophaceous gout who consistently has a serum uric acid under 5 on allopurinol but continues to experience gout flares?

Topics: Rheumatology • Crystal Arthritis

Answer from: at Academic Institution

I have a slightly different take on this question than Dr. @Emilio Gonzalez. We don’t know from the question when allopurinol was started, what the current dose is or if the patient’s gout is tophaceous. Flares are commonly seen for several months after oral uric acid lowering therapy (U...

Comments

at UTMB Health
Dr. @Baraf's answer is comprehensive, and I agree....

at George Washington University
Nice report! Thanks for adding this discussion to ...

at NIAMS
Thank you both for the comprehensive and thoughtfu...

Answer from: at Academic Institution

In a case like this, the recurrent gout flares are likely coming from MSU crystal micro tophi already present within the joint. If the renal function is normal, I would continue the prophylactic colchicine, 0.6 mg daily until these micro tophi are significantly dissolved and the flare-ups become les...

Related Questions