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ACTH as first line treatment for acute gout in 181 hospitalized patients

Dimitrios Daoussis1, Ioannis Antonopoulos, Georgios Yiannopoulos

  • 1Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Patras University Hospital, University of Patras Medical School, 26504 Rion, Patras, Greece. jimdaoussis@hotmail.com

Joint Bone Spine
|December 1, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) effectively treats acute gout in hospitalized patients, showing a high response rate and good safety profile. This makes ACTH a valuable alternative when other treatments are unsuitable.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Endocrinology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Gout management in hospitalized patients presents challenges due to contraindications for common treatments.
  • Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is explored as an alternative therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) for treating acute gout in hospitalized individuals.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 181 hospitalized patients treated with 1mg synthetic ACTH intramuscularly as first-line therapy.
  • Analysis of treatment response, recurrence rates, and safety parameters (blood pressure, potassium, glucose).

Main Results:

  • A significant response rate of 77.90% was observed following ACTH injection.
  • Retreatment of non-responders yielded an additional 82.85% response rate.
  • Recurrence occurred in 11.34% of responders, with all responding to retreatment; stable blood pressure and potassium levels were noted, with transient glucose increases in diabetics.

Conclusions:

  • Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) demonstrates efficacy and safety in treating acute gout in hospitalized patients.
  • ACTH offers a viable therapeutic option, particularly when non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, or colchicine are contraindicated.
Abstract

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