How should patients with gout be treated?
Disease description:
I am a gout patient. Recently, I have been experiencing frequent joint pain attacks, especially in my toes and ankles, with severe swelling that has significantly affected my life. I would like to know what treatment options are available for gout patients?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Tiesheng
Gout is a metabolic disorder caused by hyperuricemia, primarily manifesting as arthritis, tophi, and uric acid nephropathy. The main goals of gout treatment are to control acute attacks, prevent recurrence, reduce serum uric acid levels to within the normal range, and prevent the occurrence of complications.
Treatment strategies mainly involve two aspects: pharmacological therapy and lifestyle modifications. Pharmacological treatment includes analgesic and anti-inflammatory therapy during acute episodes, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), colchicine, and corticosteroids; and long-term urate-lowering therapy, such as diuretics, allopurinol, and febuxostat. Lifestyle modifications include a low-purine diet, weight control, limitation of alcohol consumption, and increased water intake to reduce uric acid production and promote its excretion.
For patients with gout, individualized treatment plans should be developed based on the severity of their condition, comorbidities, and individual differences. Regular monitoring of serum uric acid levels and related complications is necessary, with timely adjustment of treatment strategies to achieve long-term disease control. Additionally, patients should actively participate in disease management, enhance their awareness of self-care, improve lifestyle habits, and avoid triggering factors to alleviate symptoms and delay disease progression.
