Gouty Arthritis - causes, diagnosis and treatment

Gouty Arthritis is due to increased uric acid serum level (causes gout).
Uric acid is the end product of purine diet.
Gouty Arthritis is also caused by hyperuricemia (increase uric acid in the blood).
Gouty Arthritis causes big toe, ankles, and knees.

Signs and Symptoms of Gouty Arthritis

• common in men
  
• joint pain
• low grade fever
• (+) Tophi - formation of uric acid in big toes. (pathognomonic sign)
  

Diagnosis of Gouty Arthritis

• (-) tophi - in acute
• (+) tophi - in chronic
• (+) urate crystals in synovial fluid
• increased uric acid serum levels (other normal blood chemistry values)
  

Treatment and Management of Gouty Arthritis

• Allopurinol - increases uric acid elimination (through urination)
• Colchicine - decreases pain
• protect affected joint by:
• I - immobilize
• N - no weight bearing
• E - elevate the affected part
• cold packs to decrease pain
• diet - should be low purine diet (e.g. sardines, organ meats are high in purine)
• increase fluid intake
• no to alcohol (it may precipitate attacks)

Nursing Goal of Gouty Arthritis

• to relieve pain
• to protect affected part

---------------------] NEXT - > OSTEOARTHRITIS ->

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner