Rheumatology

Answer 2 Decrease the serum uric acid level to less than 6.0 mg/dL. Decreasing the serum uric acid level is an important (and often overlooked) part of gout management. The maximum solubility of urate in serum is approximately 6.7 mg/dL. After initiating uric acid-lowering therapy, it is important to recheck the patient’s serum uric acid level to ensure that the goal is reached. At levels less than 6.0 mg/dL, uric acid stops accumulating in soft tissues and joints and the total body uric acid load begins to decrease. If uric acid remains high, uric acid-lowering therapy should be adjusted and the patient should be reevaluated.2 REFERENCES 2. Shoji A, Yamanaka H, Kamatani N. A retrospective study of the relationship between serum urate level and recurrent attacks of gouty arthritis: evidence for reduction of recurrent gouty arthritis with antihyperuricemic therapy. Arthritis Rheum 2004;51:321-5. Click here to return to the questions

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