Patient/caregiver was educated on pathophysiology of gout as follows:

  1. Purines in the diet (part of proteins we eat) are metabolized to uric acid.
  2. Uric acid thus produced in the body is soluble in water and is ultimately excreted in the urine.
  3. Gout is a metabolic disorder of uric acid, secondary to excessive blood levels of uric acid.
  4. Excessive blood levels of uric acid can result either from increased uric acid production in the body or reduced excretion of uric acid by kidneys.
  5. Excess of uric acid crystallizes around multiple joints, causing arthritis, swelling and limitation of range of motion in the joints involved, and results in development of gout.