AskBioMapBiology Fun
Condition

Gout

Related terms: Gouty arthritis, Uric acid crystals

EstablishedTextbook physiology, or consistent findings reflected in national guidance.
Show on the map Ask about it

Painful inflammation in a joint caused by a build-up of urate crystals. The big toe is the joint most often affected.

  • Many people with high blood levels of uric acid never develop gout, according to Pathology Tests Explained.
  • Aspirin is not recommended for gout attacks.
  • High urate levels can also cause kidney stones, kidney damage and lumps of urate crystals called tophi.

How it works

Urate builds up when the kidneys do not remove it quickly enough or the body makes too much. The risk is higher with a diet high in meat and seafood, drinking a lot of alcohol, especially beer and spirits, sugary drinks, being overweight, chronic kidney disease, diuretic medicines and a family history of gout.

An attack causes sudden, severe pain and swelling in a joint, with warmth and redness. Fluid from the joint can show urate crystals, and a blood test can check urate levels, though a uric acid test is not enough to diagnose gout by itself. Attacks are treated with medicines such as NSAIDs, corticosteroids or colchicine, and long-term medicines such as allopurinol lower urate.

Connections

6 connections on the map. Select a topic to read its page.

Gout can be raised by Added sugarAdded sugarGout can be raised by AlcoholAlcoholGout can be raised by Chronic kidney disease (CKD)Chronickidney diseaseGout can be raised by Overweight and obesityOverweight and obesityGout can cause Joint painJoint painGout can cause Kidney stonesKidney stonesGout can be raised by Added sugarAdded sugarGout can be raised by AlcoholAlcoholGout can be raised by Chronic kidney disease (CKD)Chronic kidney diseaseGout can be raised by Overweight and obesityOverweight and obesityGout can cause Joint painJoint painGout can cause Kidney stonesKidney stones

Gout can be raised by

Gout can cause

Lab tests

Medicines and supplements

General education only. Never start, stop or change a medicine without your prescriber.

Sources

  1. Gouthealthdirect Australia, last reviewed March 2026
  2. Urate (uric acid)Pathology Tests Explained, last reviewed 1 June 2023

Each connection above names its own source. See every source AskBioMap uses.

Summarised from healthdirect and Pathology Tests Explained. Sources read on 16 and 19 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.

↑ ↓ to moveEnter to openEsc to close