Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsGout and GeneticsFamilial RiskRisk FactorsGenetic TestingDiagnosisSymptomsTreatmentCan You Prevent Gout?When to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Gout and Genetics
Familial Risk
Risk Factors
Genetic Testing
Diagnosis
Symptoms
Treatment
Can You Prevent Gout?
When to See a Provider
Diet and lifestyle factors can contribute to the development ofhyperuricemia(high levels of uric acid in the bloodstream). But genetics also play a significant role.
Many genes are involved in uric acid production and excretion. Variations of these genes can affect uric acid levels and influence the risk of gout. But genes alone will not cause gout. Environmental factors like diet, obesity, smoking, and certain health conditions and medications must be present for gout to eventually develop.
This article will cover the link between gout and genetics, risk factors, genetic testing, and more.
Dmitrii Marchenko / Getty Images
What’s the Link Between Gout and Genetics?
Genes involved in the development of gout include those that controluric acid productionand excretion and that regulateimmune functionandinflammatory processes. The most common genes linked to gout are SLC2A9, ABCG2, and SLC22A12.
SLC2A9
The SLC2A9 gene regulates uric acid in the body.People with a SLC2A9 variant have higher levels of uric acid in their blood, increasing their risk of developing gout.
SLC2A9 encodes a protein involved in uric acid movement. Variations in this gene affect how effectively uric acid the body removes uric acid. SLC2A9 mutations are linked to hyperuricemia and gout in White, Chinese, and Polynesian people (among other groups).SLC2A9 also has greater effects in women, leading to higher than normal uric acid levels.
A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as its sources do.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as its sources do.
ABCG2
ABCG2 has also been found to reduce allopurinol’s therapeutic response.Allopurinolis a medicine that reduces uric acid levels in the blood and urine of people with hyperuricemia.
SLC22A12
Another significant gene involved in the development of gout is SLC22A12.It provides instructions for urate transporter 1 (URAT1), a protein found in the kidneys. The URAT1 protein helps urate absorption into the bloodstream or through urine excretion based on your body’s needs.
Mutations of SLC22A12 can increase or decrease uric acid levels. Research shows that 90% of hyperuricemia results from nonfunctional URAT mutations. Other variations of SLC22A12 can actually inhibit URAT1 and reduce gout risk.
What Percentage of People With Gout Have Relatives With the Condition?
Heritability is a measurement of genetic influence on illness and other traits passed down in families.Heritability does not guarantee that you will develop a condition; it just means you are more susceptible than others in the general population to a health condition that others in your family have.
The heritability rate for gout falls between 45% and 73%.Gout tends to affect multiple family members, and about 20% of people with gout will have family members with the condition.Your risk is even greater if you have a first-degree relative (a parent or sibling) with the condition.
Who Is Prone to Getting Gout?
Gout is the result of uric acid buildup in the body. Excess uric acid can enter the joints and cause urate crystals in the joints, which can trigger inflammation. When this happens, you may experience a gout attack that causes pain, swelling, redness, and stiffness in affected joints.
Certain risk factors, along with genetic disposition, can increase your risk of developing gout. Such risk factors include:
If any of these risk factors apply to you, talk to your healthcare provider about how to reduce your risk.
What Causes Gout?
Can Genetic Testing Predict the Likelihood of Gout?
Genetic testingexamines an individual’s DNA to determine their risk for developing a health condition. Testing can help identify genetic variations (alleles) that can increase a person’s risk for gout. Alleles are copies of genes that influence hereditary characteristics.
The more risk variations a person has, the higher their risk for gout. One 2016 study found that having five or more risk alleles puts a person at a higher risk for gout than having four or fewer.
If your healthcare provider can identify specific gene variations that increase your risk for gout, they can use this information to guide treatment decisions. For example, they can prescribe medications that target specific genes that increase your risk for hyperuricemia.
Genetic testing can be helpful, but it has its limitations. Though it is possible to identify gene mutations linked to gout, these are not enough to predict the development of gout. Lifestyle factors and diet play a more significant role in the development of gout, and genetic testing alone is not enough to ascertain who will get gout or provide a full picture of gout risk.
How Is Gout Diagnosed?
A diagnosis of gout can be made based on your symptoms and the appearance of the affected joint. Your healthcare provider will also request additional testing to confirm gout or rule out other arthritis conditions.Tests may include:
How to Remove Gout Crystals From the Joint
What Are the Signs of Gout?
Some people with gout have asymptomatic hyperuricemia, the beginning state of gout in which uric acid builds up in the blood.This early stage does not cause symptoms, but uric acid levels will be elevated.
Hyperuricemia can become acute, with symptoms coming on quickly and suddenly.Gout attacksmay last a few days and improve. Symptoms include intense joint pain, swelling, and warmth. Some people might also experience fever and chills.
Your next attack may not occur for a few months or even up to a year. If not managed, however, attacks can become more frequent and severe and last much longer.
If gout is not adequately treated, it can becomechronic and lead to tophi. Tophi can cause permanent damage to joints.
How Is Gout Treated?
Untreated gout can become chronic and painful and cause joint damage and deformity. Fortunately, the condition is manageable and treatable. Your treatment plan will depend on the severity of your symptoms and how long you have had gout.
Medications
Medicines that can relieve gout pain include:
Medicines that can lower uric acid levels include:
If you have undergone genetic testing, your healthcare provider can prescribe medicines that target specific genes that cause hyperuricemia. These include xanthine oxidase inhibitors.
Lifestyle Changes
Along with medications, your healthcare provider will recommend lifestyle changes to alleviate symptoms and reduce the risk of future attacks.
Lifestyle changes to improve gout symptoms include:
Arthritis Gout Foods to Eat and Avoid With Gout
Surgery
Surgery is rarely necessary to treat gout. However, surgery may be necessary to treat infected tophi, nerve compression, or joint damage.
Preventing Complications
You should also see your healthcare provider regularly to review your symptoms and treatment plan. Your medical appointments are also a good time to express any concerns.
Because gout is a partly genetic condition, preventing it completely isn’t possible. But you can do some things to reduce your risk for the condition.
Some ways to reduce your risk are to:
If you think you are at a high risk of getting gout, speak to a healthcare provider. If you develop gout, they will start treatment right away to avoid complications.
How to Prevent Gout
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
If you experience sudden, severe joint pain, contact a healthcare provider. Untreated gout can lead to chronic gout and joint damage.
Seek immediate medical care if your joint is hot or inflamed or you have a fever. These might be signs of abone or joint infection.
Summary
Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that tends to run in families. Familial genes involved in hyperuricemia and the development of gout include SLC2A9, ABCG2, and SLC22A12. Variations of these genes can affect uric acid production and excretion and regulation of immune function and inflammatory processes.
Genetic testing might help healthcare providers identify who might develop gout and how to facilitate treatment for those who go on to get the condition. But genes alone are not enough to lead to the development of gout. Environmental factors like diet and lifestyle play a more significant role in the development of the condition.
Early diagnosis and treatment of gout are essential to reducing complications like tophi. If you experience symptoms of gout, including sudden, severe joint pain, you should let a healthcare provider know right away. They can assess you, determine the cause of your symptoms, and start you on a treatment plan.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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