Gout: look beyond the big toe for the culprit

People at highest risk of gout flare-ups are those whose gout first involved joints such as a knee or elbow… not the big toe.

A total of 46 people with gout were followed for 13 years. Although people usually associate gout with the big toe, those at highest risk for subsequent bouts had gout that originated in another joint.

“Because patients often think that a gout flare-up means their medications are not working, they may stop medications,” says Dr Eric Matteson, who co-authored the report. “It is especially important for these patients to continue taking gout medication to prevent flare-ups.”