Gout Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
Table of Contents
Gouty arthritis, characterized by gout attacks accompanied by extreme pain, is one of the primary reasons people visit hospitals more frequently than for general musculoskeletal pain.
Causes and Mechanism of Gout
Gout occurs when uric acid (uric acid), a metabolite of purine, is not properly excreted, primarily forming crystals in the joints that trigger inflammation and manifest as extreme pain. The onset of extreme pain due to gout is called a gout attack (gout attack), which often subsides and then recurs.
Inflammation Progression Pathway
Looking at the inflammation progression pathway in gout, when uric acid crystals called MSU crystal stimulate macrophages, the IL-1 pathway is activated, triggering an inflammatory response. This reaction can be heightened by uric acid in a non-crystallized state, meaning acute gout attacks can occur in a state of hyperuricemia even if crystals are not visible.
Autoinflammatory Diseases and Immune Response
Recently, the term autoinflammatory disease is used as a counterpart to autoimmunity, with focus being placed on the mechanism of gout. It is expected that this can be applied to more effective treatments based on an understanding of immunity and inflammation.
Gout Treatment Guidelines
The following medications are used in the treatment of gout:
- NSAIDs: The most commonly used anti-inflammatory analgesics
- Colchicine: Used as an inflammasome inhibitor
- Glucocorticoids: Utilized as steroids
Korean Medicine Treatment and Alternative Therapies
In Korean medicine clinics, treatment is carried out from the perspective of "removing wind-damp-heat" based on the concept of damp-heat in the joints. The focus is on controlling pain and recovering from inflammatory responses through acupuncture and herbal medicine, and it also includes strategies to facilitate excretion through urine and stool to prevent uric acid accumulation.
Dietary Therapy
Dietary therapy is significantly important in the management of gout. Foods that are good for gout will be covered in detail in another post.
