Chronic tophaceous gout with unusual large tophi: case report

Abstract

Gout is a metabolic disease, which is characterized by acute or chronic arthritis, and deposition of monosodium urate crystals in joint, bones, soft tissues, and kidneys. But large tophi are unsual in chronic gout. We report the case of a 67-year-oldArabman presenting chronic tophaceous gout with unusual large tophi involving multiple joints: hands, feet, elbows, and knees. Laboratory workup revealed elevated serum uric acid (96 mg/l, normal: 20-74 mg/l), with normal renal function test. In untreated patients, chronic tophaceous gout may develop, which is characterized by chronic destructive polyarticular involvement and tophi. The treatment consists to decrease serum uric acid level which eventually allows the regression of tophi.

Keywords

• gout
• tophi
• urate crystals