How to determine if foot joint pain is gout
Mar 28, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Aihua
Introduction
Whether foot joint pain is caused by gout can be determined through a series of medical tests such as blood tests, routine urine examination, and computed tomography (CT) scans. Gout is a common complication of hyperuricemia. In patients with hyperuricemia, blood uric acid levels typically exceed the upper limit of the normal reference range during serum uric acid testing.
Whether ankle joint pain is caused by gout can be determined through a series of medical examinations such as blood tests, urinalysis, and computed tomography (CT) scans. The specific analyses are as follows:
1. Blood Test
Gout is a common complication of hyperuricemia. When patients with hyperuricemia undergo blood testing for uric acid levels, the results typically exceed the upper limit of the normal range. The normal range is 150–416 μmol/L for males and 89–357 μmol/L for females.
2. Urinalysis
Prior to undergoing this test, patients are advised to follow a low-purine diet for five days and then complete relevant urine testing. If urinary uric acid excretion exceeds 600 mg per day, joint pain may be preliminarily diagnosed as being caused by gout.
3. Computed Tomography (CT)
Gout occurs due to crystallization of excess urate salts in the joints. If CT imaging reveals high-density shadows or strong echogenic signals suggestive of tophi (urate deposits), the joint pain is likely attributed to gout.
In addition to the above medical tests, patients may also benefit from ultrasound imaging to detect the presence of tophi, or observe whether symptoms worsen after consuming meat. Patients are advised to seek medical evaluation early and undergo appropriate diagnostic tests under a physician's guidance to confirm the underlying cause.
