A practical approach to gout. Current management of an 'old' disease.

Gouty arthritis is the culmination of a number of physiologic mechanisms that ultimately result in deposition of uric acid within joints and soft tissues. Decreased uric acid clearance through the kidney is the most common cause of gout. Tophaceous gout occurs in less than 10% of patients. Acute episodes are treated with NSAIDs or colchicine. Low-dose therapy with these agents can also prevent recurrent attacks. Most patients with gout need long-term treatment with either uricosuric agents or xanthine oxidase inhibitors.