Hyperuricemia and gout: diagnosis and therapy

In our modern society hyperuricemia is one of the most frequent metabolism disturbances. So far, every fourth man and every tenth woman suffer from an asymptomatic or a symptomatic hyperuricemia named gout. Mostly, over nutrition and malnutrition as well as other secondary factors with a genetically determined renal secretion disturbance of uric acid lead to an increase of serum uric acid. By deposition of uric acid crystals in tissues with intermittent immunologic activation of inflammation cells a manifestation of gout can be seen. The clinical image of gout varies widely. It may manifest as acute or chronic arthritis, tophi on the skin, subcutaneous tissue and the skeletal system as well as urate nephropathy. To eliminate the consequences of hyperuricemia in the long term, apart from a thorough anamnesis of nutritional habits a general examination of metabolic parameters is necessary to exclude a metabolic syndrome and other causes for a secondarily caused hyperuricemia. As gout is very often primarily caused by a renal secretion disturbance of uric acid special diagnostics should be done. Basing on literature research and inclusion of experts opinions this article represents the therapeutically options in treatment of hyperuricemia and gout with their resulting side effects and contraindications.