The effect of bariatric surgery on gout: a comparative study

BackgroundObesity is a risk factor for the development of gout. An increased incidence of early gouty attacks after bariatric surgery has been reported, but the data is sparse. The effect of weight loss surgery on the behavior of gout beyond the immediate postoperative phase remains unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pre- and postoperative frequency and features of gouty attacks in bariatric surgery patients.MethodsCharts were reviewed to identify patients who had gout before bariatric surgery. Demographic and gout-related parameters were recorded. The comparison group consisted of obese individuals with gout who underwent nonbariatric upper abdominal procedures.ResultsNinety-nine morbidly obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery had gout. The comparison group consisted of 56 patients. The incidence of early gouty attack in the first month after surgery was significantly higher in the bariatric group than the nonbariatric group (17.5% versus 1.8%, P = .003). In the bariatric group, 23.8% of patients had at least one gouty attack during the 12-month period before surgery, which dropped to 8.0% during postoperative months 1–13 (P = .005). There was no significant difference in the number of gouty attacks in the comparison group before and after surgery (18.2% versus 11.1%, P = .33). There was a significant reduction in uric acid levels 13-months after bariatric surgery compared with baseline values (9.1±2.0 versus 5.6±2.5 mg/dL, P = .007).ConclusionThe frequency of early postoperative gout attacks after bariatric surgery is significantly higher than that of patients undergoing other procedures. However, the incidence decreases significantly after the first postoperative month up to 1 year.     

Urate transport in health and disease

Circulation of urate levels is determined by the balance between urate production and excretion, homeostasis regulated by the function of urate transporters in key epithelial tissues and cell types. Our understanding of these physiological processes and identification of the genes encoding the urate transporters has advanced significantly, leading to a greater ability to predict risk for urate-associated diseases and identify new therapeutics that directly target urate transport. Here, we review the identified urate transporters and their organization and function in the renal tubule, the intestinal enterocytes, and other important cell types to provide a fuller understanding of the complicated process of urate homeostasis and its role in human diseases. Furthermore, we review the genetic tools that provide an unbiased catalyst for transporter identification as well as discuss the role of transporters in determining the observed significant gender differences in urate-associated disease risk.     

双能量CT半定量评分系统在尿酸盐结晶评估中的应用价值

目的 探讨双能量CT（DECT）半定量评分系统在痛风患者尿酸盐结晶评估中的可行性及应用价值。方法 回顾性分析2013年8月至2017年8月江苏大学附属澳洋医院39例痛风患者的足部DECT扫描结果,并对其尿酸盐结晶进行半定量评分。应用DECT定量软件测量尿酸盐结晶体积;采用组内相关系数（ICC）评估半定量评分重复性;使用Spearman相关性分析半定量评分与尿酸盐体积的相关性;同时比较半定量评分方法与定量软件测量尿酸盐体积方法所用时间。结果 39例患者共完成了73只足部扫描,其中69只足部检测到尿酸盐结晶。DECT尿酸盐结晶评分在肌腱中最高,其次为第一跖趾关节、踝/中足关节,脚趾的其他关节评分最低。2名影像医师对尿酸盐结晶的半定量分析结果一致性高,ICC为0.944。69只足部的尿酸盐结晶体积平均值为（2.69±8.84）cm³。DECT尿酸盐评分与其体积密切相关（r=0.479,P<0.001）。两名评分者使用DECT评分系统分析尿酸盐结晶所需时间分别为（68.18±15.16）秒、（74.67±16.15）秒,定量软件分析所需时间为（166.10±13.23）秒,三者之间差异有统计学意义（F=527.029,P<0.001）。结论 DECT尿酸盐结晶半定量评分系统是可行的,相比定量分析软件更省时、方便,值得推广应用。     

La maladie goutteuse

Gout is a chronic disease due to the deposition of monosodium urate microcrystals in joints and tissues. Its incidence and prevalence are increasing worldwide in close relation with the epidemic of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Gout is related to chronic hyperuricemia that should be treated to ensure the reduction or even the disappearance of acute attacks (“gout flares”) and to reduce the size and number of tophi. If arthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint is the most typical form, other joints may be affected, including the spine. Demonstration of urate microcrystals arthritis allows diagnosis of gout but, in the absence of possibility of performing joint puncture, imaging may be useful for providing complementary diagnostic elements. Appropriate care is essential to reduce the number of flares and the evolution towards gouty arthropathy but also in terms of public health in order to reduce costs related to this pathology.     

痛风患者达标治疗的影响因素调查分析与护理对策

目的探讨痛风患者达标治疗的影响因素及护理对策。方法选取2017年9月至2019年3月我院收治的痛风患者100例为研究对象,对其痛风达标治疗相关影响因素的现状进行调查,包括一般人口学资料及病历资料。采用多因素logistic回归分析法对痛风患者治疗后未达标的相关危险因素进行分析,并制定相关护理措施。结果本组100例患者中未达标59例,多因素logistic回归分析显示,体质量和饮酒史是痛风患者治疗未达标的独立危险因素(P<0.05),医嘱执行和定期复诊是保护因素(P<0.05)。结论影响痛风患者达标治疗的因素较多,需结合其自身实际情况,制定个性化健康干预指导,提升其对痛风达标治疗的相关认知、治疗依从性和自我管理能力,从而改善达标治疗的现状,提高治疗效果。     

Prevalence of monosodium urate deposits in a population of rheumatoid arthritis patients with hyperuricemia

ObjectivesTo investigate the prevalence of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposits, indicative for gout, in a population of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with concomitant hyperuricemia and to analyze the clinical and disease-specific characteristics of RA patients who exhibit MSU crystal deposits.MethodsOverall, 100 consecutive patients with the diagnosis of RA and a serum urate level above 6 mg/dl underwent dual energy computed tomography (DECT) of both feet and hands to search for MSU crystals in a prospective study between October 2011 and July 2013. Presence and extent of MSU crystal deposits on DECT was assessed by automated volume measurement. Demographic and disease-specific characteristics were recorded and included into two logistic regression models to test for the factors associated with MSU crystal deposits in RA.ResultsHyperuricemic RA patients were mostly male (55%), over 60 years of age (63 ± 11 years), had established disease (8.7 ± 10.5 years) and a mean disease activity score 28 (DAS 28) of 3.2. In total, 20 out of 100 patients displayed MSU crystal deposits in DECT. Interestingly, the majority (70%) of the RA patients positive for MSU crystal deposits were seronegative RA patients. Hence, every third seronegative RA patient had MSU crystal deposits. According to logistic regression model analysis, seronegative status correlated positively with presence of urate deposits (p = 0.019).ConclusionsThese data show that a considerable number of RA patients display periarticular MSU crystal deposits. Seronegative patients were shown to be predominantly affected with every third patient being positive for urate deposits.     

Treatment of tophaceous gout: When medication is not enough

ObjectivesTo review the literature concerning surgical intervention of tophaeceous gout and propose clinical circumstances for when it may be considered.IntroductionTophi develop in approximately 12–35% of patients with gout. Tophaceous disease is usually preventable given the availability of effective urate lowering therapies (ULT) including allopurinol, febuxostat, probenecid, lesinurad, and pegloticase. Despite medical therapy, there remains a subset of patients who develop significant complications of tophi including infection, ulceration, and entrapment neuropathy. Tophi in close proximity to joints can cause joint instability, severely limited range of motion, and significant functional impairment. For the rare circumstance when a tophus is causing an urgent complication or if a patient has a contraindication to all available ULTs, surgery may be an appropriate option. This review summarizes the published experience with surgical interventions for tophaceous gout and offers recommendations for its consideration.MethodsUsing Medline and Google Scholar, all available series of surgery for tophaceous gout were reviewed.ResultsOverall, 7 published surgical series were identified. In all, 6 of these 7 series were published between 2002 and 2014. The reported outcomes of surgical interventions for tophaceous gout were generally positive without major post-surgical complications.ConclusionAlthough medical therapy with ULTs should be the first-line approach to tophaceous gout, surgery should be considered for the rare patient with impending or severe, debilitating complications including infections, entrapment neuropathy or those at risk for permanent joint destruction. In these selected clinical circumstances, surgical intervention for tophaceous gout may be appropriate.     

丹红注射液配合苯溴马隆片治疗痛风实例

通过丹红注射液配合苯溴马隆片治疗痛风实例,说明中西医结合治疗痛风,具有治疗效果良好、无反复且副作用少的优势。