Analysis of urate crystal deposition using dual source CT in asymptomatic hyperuricaemia and symptomatic gout patients

Abstract

Objective Retrospectively analyze of urate crystal deposition using dual source CT in asymptomatic hyperuricaemia and symptomatic gout patients. Methods Sixty patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia (uric acid ≥540 μmol/L) and 48 patients with gout (without any change in the appearance of the limbs and obvious gout nodules) were selected. All patients underwent dualenergy CT imaging. The location number and size were analyzed using CT gout software. Results Eighteen patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia with urate crystal deposition in limb joints (13 in foot and ankle, 7 in the hand and wrist, 2 in knee), the average size of crystal was (0.12±0.04) cm3. Fortyeight gout patients (28 cases of early gout and 20 cases of late gout and 20 gout cases) had urate crystal deposition (48 in foot and ankle, 39 in hand and wrist, 27 in knee), the average size of crystal was(1.7 ± 0.7) cm3. The number and size of urate crystals deposited in the joints, tendons and ligaments was higher in patients with gout than asymptomatic hyperuricemia (χ2=52.076,P 0.05). Conclusion Urate crystals can deposite in asymptomatic hyperuricemia. However, more and larger urate crystals appear in gout patients, there is no difference in size and number of urate crystals between the course duration of gout. Key words: Gout; Hyperuricemia; Tomography, spiral computed; Uric acid