April 10, 2008

Causes, Risk Factors & Symptoms of Gouty Arthritis

Posted in Category : Bone, Joint & Muscles Disorders

The gout (gouty arthritis) is caused by deposits of needles like crystals of urine acid in the body. Generally, the term Gout (gouty arthritis) refers to more than 100 types of arthritis. The Gout (gouty arthritis) is responsible for approximately five percent cases of arthritis. The Gout (gouty arthritis) is a very painful rheumatic disease. Therefore, it becomes essential to know exact causes of gout (gouty arthritis).

The Gout (gouty arthritis) usually affects single joint of the body and it is most commonly found in big toe of the body. However, people may develop symptoms of Gout (gouty arthritis) in foot, ankles, knees, writs, fingers and elbows.

There are some risks associated with gout (gouty arthritis) like diabetes, kidney disease, obesity and sickle cell anemia. Since, gout (gouty arthritis) is caused by overproduction of uric acid or reduced ability of the kidney to get rid of uric acid, but the exact causes of gout (gouty arthritis) are still unknown. The common symptoms of Gout (gouty arthritis) can be found in people who drink alcohol and postmenopausal women.

Moreover, there are some other causes of gout (gouty arthritis) like medicines can increase blood uric acid like, low dose of aspirin, cyclosporine and ethambutol drugs. Another side effect of gout (gouty arthritis) is insufficiency that causes inhibition of urate secretion and increase uric acid in blood.

Overproduction of uric acid is one of the causes of gout (gouty arthritis), however, the normal diet contain 800 mg uric acid per day and therefore due to under excretion of uric acid it may develop uric crystal precipitate under the skin. This condition is known as tophi or urinary tract and it may cause inflammation in the joints.

Some causes of gout (gouty arthritis) are still unknown and it may be caused by bleeding disorders similar to hemophilia that lead to bleeding in joints. This disorder is also called avascular necrosis that obstructs the blood flow to the joint and conditions like hemochromatosis that lead to iron build up in the joints.

To know potential risks of gout (gouty arthritis) , it becomes essential to know pattern of gouty arthritis, since is not gender or race specific and people of any age group may develop symptom of Gout (gouty arthritis). However, it has been found from studies that Gout (gouty arthritis) causes more threat in men than women do because it has been found from the study that women are more likely to develop symptoms of any arthritis than men are. However, on other hand, men are most likely to develop symptoms of Gout (gouty arthritis). Therefore, it becomes essential to know exact causes of gout (gouty arthritis) and its potential risks.