The condition manifests when excess uric acid crystallizes in the joints, frequently beginning with overnight pain in the big toe before subsiding. While traditionally seen in older demographics, initial attacks are increasingly striking people in their 20s and 30s. If left unmanaged, the disease progressively spreads to areas such as the ankles, knees, hands, and elbows, eventually forming hardened crystal deposits known as tophi under the skin.
Key points
Untreated flare-ups can cause crystal deposits called tophi to harden under the skin and…: Untreated flare-ups can cause crystal deposits called tophi to harden under the skin and spread across multiple joints.
Genetic variants that regulate uric acid make certain populations, such as the Maori, far…: Genetic variants that regulate uric acid make certain populations, such as the Maori, far more susceptible to the disease.
Younger patients frequently delay seeking necessary care because early flare-ups subside…: Younger patients frequently delay seeking necessary care because early flare-ups subside naturally after just a few days.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Brett McAllister-Byrne was in his early 30s when he first noticed a sharp ache in his ankle and big toe. “I felt it the night after playing football, and I thought I must have had a knock or something,” he says. “But then it just got worse and worse.” The next morning McAllister-Byrne, an urban planner, was in too much pain to go to work. When he described the episode to his family, they suggested it might be gout.
“I was like, really?” he says. “Can you get that in your 30s?”
Gout has been with us for as long as we know: in 1910 a case was diagnosed in a mummy found near a temple in Upper Egypt. It is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis – and, it is often said, the only curable one – resulting from raised levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is produced when your metabolism breaks down molecules called purines, which are found in your body’s own cells and in certain foods you eat. Excess uric acid is normally…
Senior police and military commanders have sealed off Khudwani and nearby areas in Kulgam district following targeted intelligence regarding armed suspects. The intense multi-day pursuit aims to capture perpetrators who targeted security personnel earlier in the week and left three forces hospitalized. Heightened security protocols remain active across the region amid additional violence targeting local law enforcement.
Regulators determined that the experimental therapy failed to establish a positive benefit-risk profile because clinical evidence did not show patients lived longer. Although the candidate succeeded in slowing the worsening of disease, health officials ruled that demonstrating halted tumor growth alone was insufficient for market authorization. The move deals an expected blow to the pharmaceutical partners seeking to expand the therapy beyond the Chinese market.
The Northern Irishman completed a historic campaign by securing his fifth consecutive European Tour season-long crown following a bogey-free final round. This victory caps a dominant year that also saw him successfully defend his Masters championship in April. He dedicated the emotional accomplishment directly to his hospitalized father, who had urged him to travel abroad and secure the trophy.