Treatment advances in gout

The purpose of gout treatment is to alleviate symptoms of flares, prevent flares from recurring by lowering serum urate, and mini-mize structural joint damage and functional impairment. In recent years, several new medications to treat gout have been developed, and novel agents continue to be investigated, in addition to several long-established treatments. Although a number of effective therapies are available, optimal management and outcomes are frequently not achieved due to physician under prescribing of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) and poor adherence with therapy when it is prescribed. This article reviews recent developments in the management of gout with reference to recently published clinical guidelines, outlines some important questions regarding the safety and efficacy of particular agents, and remaining gaps in our knowledge about the most effective strategies for using currently available treatments. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The purpose of gout treatment is to alleviate symptoms of flares, prevent flares from recurring by lowering serum urate, and minimize structural joint damage and functional impairment. Despite the availability of multiple effective therapies, suboptimal management and outcomes are often due to under-prescribing of urate-lowering therapy by physicians and poor adherence with prescribed therapy by patients.