Patient/caregiver was educated on the pathophysiology of gouty arthritis as follows:
- Gout is a metabolic disorder of uric acid, secondary to excessive blood levels of uric acid. 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.
- Excess of uric acid in the blood can lead to crystallization of uric acid in multiple joints.
- Uric acid forms needle shaped crystals in the joints, resulting in inflammation and arthritis of the joints involved.
- White blood cells, which are protective and fight against any infecting organisms, increasingly migrate to the affected joint as part of inflammatory response. Chemicals released from these white blood cells cause signs and symptoms of arthritis and lead to further damage to the bone and the joint.
- Episodes of gout can happen in bouts, with multiple remissions and relapses.
- Activation of multiple episodes of gouty arthritis over a period of time result in permanent bone deformity and poorly controlled pain.
