[Treatment for gouty arthritis].

Most gouty attacks are controlled with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). To reduce side effects, appropriate use of short acting and long acting NSAID is necessary. Colchicine administration is limited to a small amount (0.5-2 mg) in the prodromal stage or within 24 hours of the gouty attack. Steroids are sometimes intra-articular administered to obtain rapid effects. Systemic liposteroid administration has been favorably performed for severe cases of repeated gouty attacks. Uric acid control should not be initiated until after the complete disappearance of the gouty attack. It is important to gradually decrease the urate accumulation and the uric acid level is controlled with a target value near the saturation concentration of urate in the joint fluid (6.0-7.0 mg/dl).