What to Expect
The diagnosis and treatment of gout and crystal arthropathy requires a careful review of a patient’s symptoms, physical findings, and previous testing. During a patient’s first appointment at the Gout and Crystal Arthropathy Center, we will review his/her medical history, perform a physical examination, and decide what additional tests are necessary to make an accurate diagnosis, typically through confirmation of uric acid or other pathologic crystals in and around the joints. We will also conduct a careful review of the patient’s medical records; therefore, we ask all patients to bring their previous medical notes, as well as related test results, including available radiographic evaluations.
Our Care Approach
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, we deliver optimal gout care with a coordinated long-term strategic approach that involves several key components that go beyond initiation of anti-gout drugs. This gout care strategy consists of patient education, individualized lifestyle advice, and appropriate use of anti-gout medications (typically, uric acid-lowering therapy) to achieve and sustain treatment targets of disease control and a potential cure (i.e., sustained uric acid control, absence of gout symptoms, and normalization of quality of life). Over a one-year period, this approach can lead to more than 90% of patients achieving the primary treatment target of uric acid <6 mg/dL as recommended by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), and to 85% achieving a serum urate level of <5 mg/dL, the target level recommended by the British Society for Rheumatology.
Our gout management strategies include initial patient education by experienced specialists, which is considered a key to its success. Center doctors Hyon Choi, MD, DrPH, Mark Fisher, MD, MPH and Minna Kohler, MD will apply their clinical and research expertise in gout and crystal arthropathies to develop personalized care plans for our patients. We promote communication with the patient, and prioritize taking sufficient time to explain the meaning and significance of hyperuricemia (elevated uric acid levels) in relation to crystal formation, and the clinical manifestations of gout, as well as the importance of treating-to-target when using uric acid-lowering therapy and the need for preventing and treating flares of gout.
Pseudogout and Other Crystal Arthropathies
In addition to research and treatment for gout, our specialists also provide coordinated long-term care for pseudogout and other crystal arthropathies.