Multiple Tophi Research Articles

Association of the Quantity, Duration, and Type of Alcohol Consumption on the Development of Gouty Tophi.

To examine the association of alcohol consumption with the presence and development of ultrasound (US)-detected tophi and subcutaneous tophi in a Chinese gout population. A total of 554 patients with gout who underwent US and physical examination of the most frequently involved joints in gout were included in this study. Multivariable analysis was performed to assess the associations of the duration, quantity, and type of alcohol consumption with the presence, size, and number of US-detected tophi and subcutaneous tophi. Compared to non-drinkers, excessive drinkers (>70 gm/week), long-term drinkers (≥10 years), and spirits drinkers had a greater proportion, size, and number of US-detected tophi and subcutaneous tophi (all P < 0.05). After adjusting for confounders, excessive drinking (>70 gm/week) (odds ratio [OR] 1.79 [2.00 after adjustment]), long-term alcohol consumption (≥10 years) (OR 1.96 [2.17 after adjustment]), and spirits consumption of (OR 1.81 [2.10 after adjustment]) were significantly associated with the presence of US-detected tophi and subcutaneous tophi (all P < 0.05), with the highest ORs among the identified risk factors. Among patients who already had US-detected tophi or subcutaneous tophi, moderate drinking (≤70 gm/week) was associated with larger or multiple tophi (all P < 0.05). Longer duration and higher quantity of alcohol consumption as well as spirits consumption are predictors for the development of US-detected tophi and subcutaneous tophi in patients with gout. Among individuals who have US-detected tophi and subcutaneous tophi, weekly alcohol consumption leads to the development of tophi regardless of amount consumed.

Gout involved the cervical disc and adjacent vertebral endplates misdiagnosed infectious spondylodiscitis on imaging: case report and literature review

BackgroundGout in spine is rare and commonly mimics some infectious or tumoral lesions, the differentiation of spinal gout from other diseases is not always easy. We report a case of gout involved cervical disc and adjacent vertebral endplates whose etiology was initially not determined. Compared with the previous published 10 similar cases, this case displayed a complete and continuous image data with higher image quality and resolution than before. So we give a brief literature review for concerning cervical gout, with the emphasis on the discussion of radiological findings.Case presentationA 50-year-old male with a 5-year history of neck and shoulder pain had muscle atrophy and weakness in both arms. Physical examination revealed multiple tophi were seen in left wrist, both feet and knee; bilateral superficial sensory declined below level of mastoid portion and the muscle strengths of limbs decreased. Laboratory findings showed hyperuricemia and the C-reactive protein level was very high. Imaging studies including Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed abnormality of the C5–6 intervertebral disc and irregular osteolytic destruction of both adjacent C5–6 endplates, narrowing of C5–6 disc space and swelling of prevertebral soft tissue. Under the circumstance of the lesions being not determined and nerve root symptoms, surgical treatment was performed and pathological examination of the specimen revealed deposited uric acid crystals surrounded by granulomatous inflammation. After surgery combined with pharmaceutical and rehabilitation treatment, the muscle strengths of limbs, the pain of neck and shoulder and the level of serum uric acid were all improved.ConclusionsCervical spinal gout involving the disc and adjacent vertebral endplates is uncommon and may misunderstand infectious spondylodiscitis. Physician and radiologist should take the gouty spondylitis into account with a combination with previous history and clinical manifestations when encountering with such this condition.

Severe deformans tophaceous gouty arthritis

A 61-year-old man with a 20-year history of gout with severe functional disability was evaluated in our service. He received alopurinol and colchicine without response. Physical examination revealed bilateral great deformity, multiple tophi and edema of hands (Fig. 1), feet and knees. Serum uric acid was elevated: 11.2 mg/dL (reference value: 3.4–7.0 mg/dL). Hands X-ray AP view demonstrated, in both hands (Fig. 2A [left] and B [right]), conserved bone mineralization with severe soft-tissue swelling, extensive erosions with sclerotic borders (white arrows), precipitation of calcium with urate crystals giving density to the tophi (head arrows), bone spiculations (black arrows) and osteolytic expansive lesions in multiple heads of metacarpophalangic joint (double-head arrows).

Chronic Tophaceous Gout in Multiple Spines: A Case Report and Literature Review

Gout typically affects the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint. Spinal gout is rarely reported. Moreover, involvement of extensive spines is remarkably unusual. We describe a case of a 76-year-old woman with gout involving cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines and sacroiliac joint. She presented with fever, severe back pain, and polyarthralgia and had multiple tophi on both elbows and the left 2nd and 5th proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints. Monosodium urate crystals were confirmed from tophi on the left 5th PIP joint by polarized optical microscopy. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography showed joint space narrowing and bony erosions on cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines, and sacroiliac joint. Fever, back pain, and polyarthralgia improved significantly with oral steroid therapy. Spinal gout can involve multiple spines and other joints and it can be improved by medical treatment only. It should be considered in patients with uncontrolled gout who have acute severe back pain. (J Rheum Dis 2015;22:250-255)

Multiarticular tophaceous gout with severe joint destruction: a pictorial overview with a twist.

Tophi are the visible dermatological signs of gout. A case of tophaceous gout in a middle-aged man with no other metabolic derangement is being presented with multiple tophi on the hands and feet overlying joints as well as on the fingers and toes. We thought it to be of educational value to demonstrate needle-like crystals of urate by polarizing microscopy. X-rays of hands and feet showed dramatic destructive changes. The patient presented with mottled hypopigmentation on anterior and posterior knees and dorsa of hands and feet where he applied hot “aankda” leaves and covered them with bandage resulting in irritant dermatitis with postinflammatory hypopigmentation. This proved to be a red herring in this case.

Tophus burden reduction with pegloticase: results from phase 3 randomized trials and open-label extension in patients with chronic gout refractory to conventional therapy

IntroductionTwo replicate randomized, placebo-controlled six-month trials (RCTs) and an open-label treatment extension (OLE) comprised the pegloticase development program in patients with gout refractory to conventional therapy. In the RCTs, approximately 40% of patients treated with the approved dose saw complete response (CR) of at least one tophus. Here we describe the temporal course of tophus resolution, total tophus burden in patients with multiple tophi, tophus size at baseline, and the relationship between tophus response and urate-lowering efficacy.MethodsBaseline subcutaneous tophi were analyzed quantitatively using computer-assisted digital images in patients receiving pegloticase (8 mg biweekly or monthly) or placebo in the RCTs, and pegloticase in the OLE. Tophus response, a secondary endpoint in the trials, was evaluated two ways. Overall tophus CR was the proportion of patients achieving a best response of CR (without any new/enlarging tophi) and target tophus complete response (TT-CR) was the proportion of all tophi with CR.ResultsAmong 212 patients randomized in the RCTs, 155 (73%) had ≥1 tophus and 547 visible tophi were recorded at baseline. Overall tophus CR was recorded in 45% of patients in the biweekly group (P = 0.002 versus placebo), 26% in the monthly group, and 8% in the placebo group after six months of RCT therapy. TT-CR rates at six months were 28%, 19%, and 2% of tophi, respectively. Patients meeting the primary endpoint of sustained urate-lowering response to therapy (responders) were more likely than nonresponders to have an overall tophus CR at six months (54% vs 20%, respectively and 8% with placebo).Both overall tophus CR and TT-CRs increased with treatment duration in the OLE, reaching 70% (39/56) of patients and 55% (132/238) of target tophi after one year of treatment in patients receiving pegloticase during both the RCTs and OLE. At that time point, more tophi had resolved in responders (102/145 or 70% of tophi) than nonresponders (30/93; 32%).ConclusionsPegloticase reduced tophus burden in patients with refractory tophaceous gout, especially those achieving sustained urate-lowering. Complete resolution of tophi occurred in some patients by 13 weeks and in others with longer-term therapy.Trial registrationsNCT00325195, NCT01356498

A Case of Juvenile Gout Associated with Multiple Tophi

A Case of Juvenile Gout Associated with Multiple Tophi