[Austrian 3e-recommendations for diagnosis and management of gout 2013].

BACKGROUND

Gout is the most common inflammatory joint disease in the Western world, with increasing prevalence. Like former 3e-initiatives (Experts-Evidence-Education) dealing with other rheumatological problems, this initiative aimed at the development of international recommendations for the diagnosis and management of gout and hyperuricemia based on a systematic literature research.

METHODS

In the participating countries 10 national questions were generated via a Delphi-process. These questions were collected and out of this pool 10 international questions were formulated. Afterwards a systematic literature research was performed. On that basis again first national and afterwards international recommendations were generated.

RESULTS

On the basis of the available literature an Austrian expert panel developed 10 recommendations on diagnosis and management of gout and hyperuricemia. After publication of the international 3e-recommendations we hereby present the national Austrian questions and expert-recommendations for diagnosis and management of gout 2013 followed by a comparison of the Austrian and the international recommendations.