TO EVALUATE DECT’S ROLE IN GOUT AND EXAMINE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH CLINICAL AND PARACLINICAL

Abstract

Background: To identify Urate crystals from synovial fluid under polarized microscopy is considered the gold standard in diagnosing Gout disease. However, it is not always possible to suck up enough fluid or in case of pain, it is impossible to suck the fluid. Dual-energy Computed Tomography (DECT) is a new tool for diagnosing Gout disease. DECT shows the deposition of urate crystals and bone structure images using different display colors. However, there is no agreement from the research results in the world. In Vietnam, no original research has been published. Objective: To evaluate DECT’s role in Gout and examine the relationship with clinical and paraclinical factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients who visited the Hoa Hao-Medic clinic in Ho Chi Minh City. Gout disease is diagnosed with clinical and paraclinical criteria; and have DECT results. The cases were selected continuously, there were no cases of losing samples. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent association between clinical and paraclinical variables with DECT images. Results: 61 out of 80 Gout patients with DECT positive accounted for 77.25%, There was an association between DECT and number of Gout attacks (> 3 times), duration of illness (> 36 months), tophi seeds. No correlation was found between clinical variables and background characteristics in the study. In the subclinical, urate crystal deposition images show a clear imprint on goute disease, while other variables do not find expression. Conclusion: DECT is closely related to the frequency of gout attacks, disease duration and tophi. Gout disease is a consequence of lifestyle behaviors, inappropriate eating habits, and exposure to risk factors in life. Key words: DECT (Dual-energy Computed Tomography), Hoa Hao-Med, Gout