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Differences in Achilles tendon stiffness in people with gout: a pilot study
Simon Otter1,2, Catherine Payne3, Anna-Marie Jones4
1School of Health Sciences, University of Brighton, 49 Darley Rd, Eastbourne, BN20 7UR, UK. s.otter@brighton.ac.uk.
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
|October 8, 2020
Summary
People with gout have significantly reduced Achilles tendon stiffness compared to those without gout. This finding suggests gout may impact tendon health and elasticity, similar to Achilles tendinopathy.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Musculoskeletal Imaging
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Gout is linked to muscle weakness, altered gait, and increased tendinopathy risk, particularly affecting Achilles and patella tendons.
- Inflammation in gout may alter the elasticity of tendon tissues.
- Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a non-invasive ultrasound technique for quantifying tendon stiffness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in Achilles tendon stiffness between individuals with gout and healthy controls.
- To assess the utility of SWE in evaluating tendon properties in gout patients.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study compared 24 individuals with gout and 26 age/sex-matched controls.
- Ultrasound imaging assessed tendon thickness, tophi, and angiogenesis.
- Ten SWE measurements quantified Achilles tendon stiffness in each foot, adjusting for Body Mass Index (BMI).
Main Results:
- No significant difference in Achilles tendon thickness between gout and control groups.
- Significantly reduced Achilles tendon stiffness was observed in individuals with gout compared to controls (p=0.003 for right, p=0.025 for left).
- The presence of tophi did not correlate with SWE-measured stiffness.
Conclusions:
- Chronic gout is associated with significantly reduced Achilles tendon stiffness.
- These findings suggest gout impacts Achilles tendon mechanical properties, showing similarities to conditions like Achilles tendinopathy.
