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Finger pad tophi in gout
N W Holland1, D Jost, A Beutler
1Department of Internal Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
The Journal of Rheumatology
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Finger pad tophi, urate deposits in chronic tophaceous gout patients, were found in 30.5% of cases. This study suggests these deposits are more common than previously thought.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Gout Research
- Crystal Arthropathies
Background:
- Gout is a common inflammatory arthritis characterized by monosodium urate crystal deposition.
- Chronic tophaceous gout involves the formation of visible or palpable urate deposits (tophi).
- Finger pad tophi are not frequently reported, leading to an underestimation of their prevalence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency and prevalence of finger pad tophaceous deposits in individuals with chronic tophaceous gout.
- To assess the clinical significance of urate deposition in the finger pads of gout patients.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 36 consecutive patients diagnosed with chronic tophaceous gout.
- Examination of patients from outpatient clinics at two major university hospitals.
- Assessment for the presence of intracutaneous tophaceous urate deposits specifically in the finger pads.
Main Results:
- Finger pad tophaceous deposits were identified in 30.5% of the examined patients.
- The observed prevalence was higher than anticipated based on existing literature.
- This finding highlights a potentially under-recognized manifestation of chronic tophaceous gout.
Conclusions:
- Finger pad tophi may occur more frequently in patients with chronic tophaceous gout than is commonly recognized.
- Further research is warranted to understand the clinical implications and diagnostic importance of finger pad tophi.
- The study suggests a need to consider finger pad examination in the assessment of chronic tophaceous gout.