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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Author Spotlight: High-Throughput Screening to Obtain Crystal Hits for Protein Crystallography
Published on: March 10, 2023
Crystal-Induced Arthritides in the Elderly: An Update.
Hossam El-Zawawy1, Brian F Mandell2
1Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM), Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases, Cleveland Clinic Florida, 2950 Cleveland Clinic Boulevard, Weston, FL 33331, USA.
Gout prevalence rises with age, often presenting atypically in older adults. Maintaining serum urate below 6.8 mg/dL is key to dissolving deposits and preventing gout flares.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Clinical Biochemistry
Background:
- Gout prevalence increases with age.
- Serum urate supersaturation leads to crystal deposition in joints.
- Elderly gout presentation is frequently atypical, complicating diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of gout in the elderly.
- To emphasize the importance of urate-lowering therapy for gout management.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical presentation and management strategies for gout in older adults.
- Discussion of urate solubility thresholds and their clinical implications.
Main Results:
- Elderly patients present unique challenges due to comorbidities and atypical symptoms.
- Treatment decisions are complex, with potentially limited therapeutic options.
- Maintaining serum urate below 6.8 mg/dL is crucial for preventing urate crystal deposition.
Conclusions:
- Effective gout management in the elderly requires addressing atypical presentations and comorbidities.
- Achieving and maintaining low serum urate levels below the saturation point is essential for preventing recurrent gout attacks and promoting urate crystal dissolution.
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