Tophaceous Gout in Adults: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Gout is a microcrystalline arthropathy resulting from the deposition of sodium urate microcrystals in the articular and periarticular tissues, and even in the extra-articular tissues. It affects mainly men and its mechanism is at the origin of a delay in diagnosis, and consequently its severe forms can occur. We report a case of tophaceous gout in a 59 year old adult, with no family history of gout. Gout, whose first attack was at the age of 40, was polyarticular and affected the left wrist, elbows, knees, ankles and the left big toe. The diagnosis was based on clinical signs (tophi at the elbows, ankles, hands, and auricles) and paraclinical signs ( hyperuricemia at 620 ʯmol/l With normal at150-360 ʯmol/l in women and 310-420 ʯmol/l in men, presence of sodium urate cristals in the puncture fluid of the right knee, double- contour image on ultrasonography) by the ACR/Eular classification criteria. The background treatment was based on 120mg of Febuxostat per day with a favorable follow-up marked by the regression of signs.