The Clinical Spectrum of Gouty Arthritis in Women

Abstract

We reviewed crystal-proved gouty arthritis in 23 women. Twenty-one (91%) developed gout after menopause onset. Tophaceous gout occurred in six (26%), polyarticular involvement in 13 (57%); 70% manifested an underlying arthropathy, usually osteoarthritis. We studied 75 men with crystal-proved gout for comparison. Women developed gout significantly later compared with men, more often were receiving diuretics before gout onset, and more frequently manifested renal insufficiency and monoarticular involvement. These differences were significant when controlled for the women's later age at onset. Significantly more men than women had alcoholism and an identifiable precipitating event for acute attacks. There were no significant differences in race, age, family history of gout, disease duration, hypertension, distribution of joint involvement, tophi, or mean serum urate concentration. Gout in women is overwhelmingly postmenopausal, apparently associated with diuretic therapy and renal insufficiency independent of the effects of age. Articular characteristics in men and women are remarkably similar.