Gout - signs

Gout is a disease in which, due to metabolic disorders in various tissues of the body, urates (uric acid salts) begin to accumulate, causing inflammatory processes there. The kidneys and joints suffer the most (the thumb of the foot is more often affected). In the early stages, the disease is easier to treat, so it is so important to know the first signs of gout.

How to recognize gout?

There are four stages of the disease, which are characterized by various pathological processes. Consider the main signs of gout in women at each stage.

Asymptomatic hyperuricemia

As a result of accelerated formation in the body of uric acid, its content in the blood rises. This can be caused by the participation of purine in metabolism, impaired renal function or increased fructose in food. There are no clinical manifestations of the disease at this stage.

Acute gouty arthritis

The first clinical sign of gout disease is an attack of arthritis (more often on legs). It develops usually after persistent and long-term hyperuricemia. Preceding the attack for 1 - 2 days can be the following manifestations:

• general malaise;
• nervousness;
• insomnia ;
• dyspepsia.

As a rule, the metatarsophalangeal joint of the first toe is affected, less often - the knee, ankle or foot pile. There is a sharp, sudden pain in the joint, which quickly grows and becomes intolerable. The attack in most cases occurs at night or early morning. The following symptoms may also occur:

• swelling in the area of ​​the affected joint;
• limitation of mobility in the joint;
• redness of the skin in the affected area (followed by desquamation);
• increased body temperature;
• chills;
• increased sweating;
• tachycardia ;
• increase in blood pressure.

These symptoms completely regress in a few days or weeks.

Intercritical period

After the first joint attack (attack), there is often a long period of "full well-being" - from several months to several years. The joint functions are completely restored, and the sick person can feel absolutely healthy.

In the future, acute attacks are repeated at different intervals, capturing an increasing number of joints of the lower and upper extremities. Over time, the interictal periods become shorter.

Chronic gouty deposits in the joints

This stage is characterized by the formation of gouty joint changes and kidney damage. There are two forms of kidney damage:

1. Urinary nephropathy - characterized by a non-permanent presence in the urine of protein, leukocytes, as well as hypertension.
2. The formation of urate stones as a result of massive precipitation of uric acid in the tubular system of the kidneys and ureters; this can cause acute renal failure.

Deformation of joints occurs as a result of destruction of cartilage and articular surfaces, as well as infiltration with urate periarticular tissues. There is the formation of tofusi - seals from clusters of urate crystals, surrounded by inflammatory cells and fibrous masses. As a rule, tofus are localized on the auricles, over the affected joints, skin over the Achilles and popliteal tendons.

X-ray signs of gout disease

Reliable X-ray signs of the disease can be observed no earlier than five years after the onset of the disease. This method is not used for early diagnosis, but only for monitoring the effect of chronic gout on joints.