Devastating Complications Stemming from Gout

Gout – which is defined as a”complex form of arthritis that can affect anyone. It’s characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness and tenderness in one or more joints” – is one of the most painful experiences someone can go through. However, beyond the crippling joint pain, there are also devastating gout complications that many are unaware of.

Tophi:

Tophis are a growths that develop when gout goes untreated. These masses of urate crystals develop around whatever joint is affected by a given gout attack, including on elbows, fingers, hands, toes, ankles, and even ears. Eventually, these tophi nodules protrude from the skin, becoming noticeable liquid, pasty, or chalky bumps around the joint.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the most serious health problems that can develop from gout. The high levels of urate acid in the blood (which leads to gout attacks and the development of the aforementioned tophi growths as well as urate crystals) can in-turn lead to permanent joint damage which leads to Osteoarthritis. OA, as it’s known, is a “degenerative disease that gradually breaks down the cartilage that cushions bones. It causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in joints like the knees, hips, fingers, lower back, and neck.”

Bone Erosion and Fractures:

According to a 2018 study, there’s a strong link between gout cases and eventual bone deterioration, erosion, and eventual fracture. According to the study, “as many as 44 percent of people with gout have bone erosions.. Furthermore:

“High blood pressure, high blood sugar, and kidney disease were also associated with an increased likelihood of having bone erosions among gout patients. People whose imaging tests showed visible evidence of tophi — a deposit of uric acid crystals around a joint — were much more apt to have bone deterioration, too. According to the authors, this is the first study of its size to assess how common bone erosions are in gout patients. While pain from a gout attack usually abates within a few days, these findings suggest that more people may need to be on long-term medication (such as allopurinol) to decrease levels of uric acid in order to decrease the number of future attacks as well as avoid or limit bone damage.”

Kidney Stones and Kidney Disease:

Gout attacks can have devastating effects on the kidneys. According to according to Michael Toprover, MD, a rheumatologist at NYU Langone Health, “People with gout could be at a higher risk of developing uric acid kidney stones because they have a higher level of uric acid being excreted by the kidneys, and they have more acidic urine, which makes the uric acid more likely to form stones.”

Recurrent Attacks:

One of the more distressing things about gout is that there’s a high chance once a patient suffers from it once, it’s likely not going away. This condition, known as recurrent gout, sees a patient suffers from gout attacks several times a year. Medications may help keep these attacks under control, which is likely a wise move as recurrent gout can lead to bone fractures, joint erosion, and eventually destruction.

Cardiovascular Disease:

According to heart.org, there’s a consistent and worrisome connection between those who suffer with gout and those with cardiovascular issues, up to an including heart attacks.

Dr. Jasvinder Singh, a gout researcher and professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, told the publication, “Gout is not just a disease of the joints: It’s a disease that causes inflammation in the joints and in the body. It’s not just a pain in the toe – it affects other organs, too, including the heart.” Singh continued, “Patients may say, ‘I have an attack every two years, so shouldn’t I wait (for treatment) until it becomes more frequent?’ But in light of studies such as this one… patients might want to take that into account and know that leaving gout untreated might be affecting their cardiovascular health.”

Diabetes:

Gout attacks can often be linked to diabetes. As we’ve established, gout is caused by high levels of uric acid and urate crystals in the blood. High levels of elevated uric acid – anything over 7 mg/dL – in the blood is known as hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia in-turn is linked to high risk levels of developing type 2 diabetes.

Sleep Disruption:

Gout can have numerous negative effects on sleeping. For starters, the pain and tenderness in joints afflicted with gout can be so bad that even the slightest touch from a blanket or sheet can be unbearable. Furthermore, those who suffer from gout are more likely to suffer from “frequent snoring, snorting, gasping, or stopping breathing while asleep.”

Cancer:

According to a study by the United States Government’s National Library of Medicine, gout has can be described as “an independent risk factor for the incidence of total cancer, particularly urological cancers, digestive system cancers, and lung cancer. The precise association between gout and individual cancers warrants further investigation by more epidemiological studies with high quality.”

Emotional Distress and Depression:

A 2018 study found that “patients with gout were nearly 10% more likely to experience depression compared with the general population.” This is arguably due to lack of sleep, changing moods, and the overall devastating effects of being in unbearable pain several times a year (for those suffering from recurrent gout).

These gout complications can range from trouble sleeping and visible growths all the way to links to mental illness, osteoarthritis, and even cancer. Yeah, suffice to say, if you’re suffering from gout you should see a doctor regularly to keep things in check.