Search
Powered By HealthLine
Special Offers
Health Tools
 Heart Healthy Diet
 Ideal Body Weight Calculator
 Diet Reviews
 Fitness and Family
 Quiz: Test Your Fitness IQ
 Exercise and Fitness Guide
 Eat Out Smart
 Healthy Cooking
 BMI Calculator
Featured Conditions
 Diet & Exercise
 Stop Smoking
 Food & Fitness
 High Blood Pressure
 Cholesterol
 Heart
Resources
Healthscout News
3D Health Animations
Health Videos
Quizzes & Tools
Health Encyclopedia
In-Depth Reports
Library & Communities
News Archive
Drug Library
Find a Therapist
Enter City or Zip Code:
Powered by Psychology Today
PR Newswire
 Read latest







Channels
Home |  Today | Women| Men| Kids| Seniors| Diseases| Addictions| Sex & Relationships| Diet, Fitness, Looks| Alternative Medicine| Drug Checker
Medical Health Encyclopedia
 border=



Uric acid crystals
Uric acid crystals
Tophi gout in hand
Tophi gout in hand


Chronic gouty arthritis

Alternative Names:
Gout - chronic; Gouty arthritis - chronic

Symptoms:
  • An attack of chronic gout is similar to an attack of acute gouty arthritis. The symptoms come on suddenly, usually involving only one or a few joints. The pain frequently starts during the night and is often described as throbbing, crushing, or excruciating. The affected joints show signs of warmth, redness, and tenderness. The pain tends to subside within several days. Chronic gout attacks, however, occur more often.
  • If several attacks of gout occur each year, this may cause joint deformity and limited motion in affected joints. Uric acid deposits called tophi develop in cartilage tissue, tendons, and soft tissues. These tophi usually develop only after a patient has suffered from the disease for many years. Deposits also can occur in the kidneys, leading to chronic kidney failure.


Signs and tests:

There may be a current or previous medical history of acute arthritis in one joint. A physical examination of joints shows arthritis and tophi.

Text Continues Below



Tests that indicate gouty arthritis include:




A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

 







About The HealthScout Network Contact Us
Copyright © 2001-2009. The HealthCentralNetwork, Inc. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy: Updated as of April 1, 2009  Terms of Service   Site Map
Advertising Policy