Monday, February 10, 2014

Gout Medical Treatment Research

Another post and another topic:  the future of gout prevention and treatment.  We will again look at at the National Institute of Arthritis Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website, a very useful resource for learning about gout.  

As I've stated before, gout is a tricky condition, for example, if you are overweight you are more susceptible to developing gout and after you've developed it if you lose that weight you can often get a flare up then. What a horrid place to be in!  Fortunately in my mind the future of gout treatment is looking up!  Let me tell you why:

In my readings, I've learned that gout is rare in animals.  Scientists do believe, however; that poor Sue the Tyrannosaurus  did suffer from gout. Gout is rare in most animals because they have an enzyme that breaks down the purines in their body.  New medicines like Krystexxa help humans to do the same, though this treatment has just hit the market and is very expensive though I am personally hopeful that in the future we will see cheaper versions of this medicine that will be easier to take.  

Let's look at the NIAMS websites discussion on the future of gout treatment:

What Research Is Being Done on Gout?

Scientists are studying:
  • Which NSAIDs are the most effective treatments for gout
  • Optimal dosages of medications for gout
  • New medicines that safely lower uric acid in the blood and reduce symptoms
  • New therapies that block a chemical called tumor necrosis factor
  • Enzymes that break down purines in the body
  • The role of foods and certain vitamins
  • The role of genetics and environmental factors
  • The interactions of cells involved in acute gout attacks.
Scientists are also studying the role of genetics and environmental factors in hyperuricemia and gout. [1]
 Gout sufferers and friends and family, I believe there is hope. Have you heard any news concerning gout research or treatment?  Leave your comments here!

**This website is for informative purposes and should not be substituted as advice of a medical professional.  If you believe you have gout, I STRONGLY recommend scheduling an appointment with a medical professional and getting the problem checked out.

[Source: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Gout/gout_ff.asp]

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