Pharmacotherapy of Gout
Start with the big picture
For acute flares, potent NSAIDs are a first-line option; colchicine and glucocorticoids are alternatives selected according to the clinical situation. Colchicine limits neutrophil activity but has important gastrointestinal, muscle, and blood-cell adverse effects, with dose considerations in organ impairment and certain drug interactions. IL-1 inhibitors may be used for flares not controlled by standard therapy. Long-term urate-lowering therapy is considered for specified clinical features, with a serum urate target that is lower in tophaceous disease. Allopurinol is the preferred initial urate-lowering drug in the source, while febuxostat, uricosuric agents, and pegloticase have distinct roles and precautions. Managing gout therefore requires attention to both treatment goals and medication-specific risks.
What you'll learn
- Distinguish acute flare treatment from long-term urate-lowering therapy.
- Identify medication options for acute gout and their key safety considerations.
- Recognize clinical features that support starting urate-lowering therapy.
- Compare the roles and precautions of major urate-lowering agents.
- Describe the serum urate targets presented for gout management.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.