Symptoms:

Joint pain frequently starts during the night and is often described as throbbing, crushing, or excruciating. The affected joints show signs of warmth, redness, and tenderness. The pain tends to go away within several days. Chronic gout attacks, however, occur more often.

If several attacks of gout occur each year, it can lead to joint deformity and limited motion in joints. Uric acid deposits called tophi develop in cartilage tissue, tendons, and soft tissues. These tophi usually develop only after a patient has suffered from the disease for many years. Deposits also can occur in the kidneys, leading to chronic kidney failure.

Signs and tests:

There may be a current or previous medical history of acute arthritis in one joint. A physical examination of joints shows arthritis and tophi.

Tests that may be done include:

• Joint x-rays
• Synovial (joint) fluid analysis
• Uric acid blood test
• Uric acid urine test