PRIMARY GOUT IN AGING PATIENTS: 26

Abstract

We observed late onset - over 65 years of age - of gout in 15 patients or in 14% out of 104 patients. Comparative studies of clinic and physiopatological manifestations of these 15 patients revealed the following: - prevalence of females was higher (26.5%), familial incidence of: the disease was present only in 6%, overweight was uncommon (13%). In most cases hyperuricemia was present (mean value 8.3 mg%), with significant reduction of uric acid clearance (mean value 6.7 ml/min) while uricosuria was normal (mean value 672 mg/24h.) The site of initial attack was the first metatarsal falangeal joint (podagra) in 60%. Tophi were never found. Renal calculi were observed only in 2 cases (13%). Cholesterol and tryglicerides mean levels were normal meanwhile significantly lower levels of HDL-Cholesterol and of Apo-A Lipoproteins were observed in patients with coronary heart disease (20%). Hypertension was present in 33% of the patients. In these patients levels of ionized calcium were significantly lower (mean value 2.04 mEq/1) than in patients with normal blood pressure (mean value 2.18 mEq/1).