Uric acid is derived from purine, a substance found in many foods. It is created when the body breaks purine down for use by the body. Uric acid is then moved to the kidneys for elimination through the urine. 

The medical community previously concluded that gout was caused by overindulgence in alcohol and rich foods. Doctors now understand that gout occurs when the body overproduces uric acid or the kidneys don’t excrete sufficient quantities. Inadequate uric acid excretion accounts for 90% of all gout cases. Hyperuricemia, abnormally elevated uric acid, is the primary cause for gout. 


People with high levels of uric acid are more likely to develop gout. Several risk factors play a significant role.

• Genetics: A family history of gout is present in 25% of people who have the disease. One rare genetic disorder, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, causes uric acid to accumulate throughout the body’s fluids and causes severe gout. 
• Medical Conditions: Diabetes, acidosis, cancer, kidney disease, untreated hypertension, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis predispose a patient to developing gout. 
• Obesity: Overeating causes the body to produce increased levels of uric acid.
• Alcohol: Some of these beverages contain purines and others interfere with the elimination of uric acid from the body. 
• Purine-rich foods: Organ meats, such as liver, alcoholic beverages, spinach can cause or worsen gout. 
• Lead poisoning: Impedes the elimination of uric acid. 
• Drugs: Diuretics, salicylates, chemotherapy, levodopa, cyclosporine and niacin can slow the clearance of uric acid from the body.
• Age and Gender: Men, aged 40 to 50, are more likely to develop gout than women. The risk for women increases after menopause.

Gout is often confused with rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of inflammatory arthritis. Elevated uric acid levels are a biochemical marker for gout, but are not sufficient for a gout diagnosis. To confirm a gout diagnosis, physicians collect synovial fluid samples from affected joints. If the sample contains monosodium urate crystals, the test is conclusive for gout.

Gout is treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) agents and allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor. Acute episodes, or flares, are treated with ibuprofen and other NSAIDs. They are effective in reducing the pain and inflammation associated with gout. Allopurinol reduces uric acid production. It is used in chronic gout to prevent future attacks and to resolve kidney stones caused by an accumulation of uric acid.