[Gout]

In most cases gout is the clinical manifestation of familial hyperuricemia. Pathogenesis of hyperuricemia, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of hyperuricemia and gout are described. Treatment of hyperuricemia consists of dietary measurements and administration of uric acid lowering drugs, such as allopurinol or uricosuric agents. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, colchicine and glucocorticosteroids are the treatment of choice for the acute gout attack. Prophylaxis of acute uric acid nephropathy consists of hydration, urine alkalinization and administration of allopurinol or rasburicase. For treatment of acute uric acid nephropathy rasburicase is the drug of choice.