Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIs Gout an Autoimmune Disease?Understanding GoutAutoimmune DiseasesManaging Gout
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Is Gout an Autoimmune Disease?
Understanding Gout
Autoimmune Diseases
Managing Gout
Goutis a painful inflammatory condition. Symptoms of gout often mimic those of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). When symptoms hit, you may wonder what causes it and if you have an autoimmune disease.
This article discusses the causes of gout, its relationship to autoimmune diseases, and what you can do about it.
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Gout is due to excess uric acid in the body. Uric acid crystals form in the joints and tissues, and the body reacts to these with inflammation. Gout is an auto-inflammatory disease, but not an autoimmune disease.
Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis.It affects about 9.2 million people in the United States.
Gout causes acute inflammation in one or more joints, known as agout flare-up. It often presents with sudden, intense pain and swelling. These attacks occur as crystallized uric acid builds up in the joint.
Gout is most likely to occur in the big toe. That’s because uric acid is temperature-sensitive, and the toe, being far from the heart, is cooler than the rest of the body.But it can occur in any joint, such as thewristorankle.
Untreated gout can cause permanent joint damage, known as chronic gouty arthritis. In addition, crystals of uric acid can leave hard lumps calledtophiin the skin.
What Causes Gout?
Gout occurs due tohyperuricemia(excess uric acid in the blood) and the depositing of uric acid crystals, which leads to acute inflammation in one or more joints.
Your body makesuric acidas it breaks down chemicals called purines. You can develop gout if your kidneys can’t properly get rid of uric acid or if your body produces too much uric acid.
Hyperuricemia can also happen when you eat a lot of high-purine foods such as meats, certain types of seafood, and alcohol. Other factors that can lead to higher uric acid levels are:
Elevated uric acid alone isn’t always enough tocause gout, though.
In one study, only 9% of people with hyperuricemia of 7.0 to 8.9 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) had a gout flare-up over 15 years. And at levels above 10 mg/dL, only half had gout over 15 years. Researchers have identified at least 13 inflammatory pathway genes that may be involved in the development of gout.
Gout Symptoms
Symptoms of gout include:
Gout can also affect:
Some things that may trigger a flare-up are:
Risk Factors for Gout
Gout affects about 1% to 4% of the general population.Factors that may increase the risk of developing gout include:
A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To accurately reflect our sources, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as they are used in the sources.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To accurately reflect our sources, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as they are used in the sources.
What Is an Autoimmune Disease?
The immune system attacks foreign organisms and substances to guard against disease and infection. When you have anautoimmune disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases, includingtype 1 diabetesand rheumatoid arthritis.Having one increases the risk of developing another.
As with gout, people with autoimmune disorders may experience flare-ups of disease activity. It’s not clear exactly what causes someone to develop an autoimmune disease. Treatment may involveanti-inflammatory drugsand/orimmunosuppressants.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
It’s classically a symmetrical disease, affecting the same joints on both sides of the body. Without treatment, RA can lead to permanent joint damage. It can also affect the lungs, eyes, and skin.
RA and goutshare similar symptoms, and it’s possible to have both. In a study of almost 2,000 people with RA, 17% had high levels of uric acid, and 6.1% also had gout.
Lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosusis a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect many parts of the body and may cause arthritis-like symptoms. In addition to the joints, lupus can affect the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, and blood vessels.
Celiac Disease
In someone withceliac disease, eatingglutentriggers an inflammatory response that damages the lining of the intestines. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye grains. Researchers believe it may develop due to a combination of many different genetic and nongenetic factors.
Some people with celiac disease develop joint pain symptoms.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s diseaseis aninflammatory bowel diseasethat mainly affects the digestive system. It is considered immune-mediated. Some people develop joint problems related to Crohn’s disease, including joint pain and swelling in the back, hands, feet, arms, and legs.
Addison’s Disease
Addison’s diseaseis a rare disorder that happens when the immune system attacks the adrenal glands, which disrupts production of vital hormones. Common symptoms include fatigue, skin discoloration, gastrointestinal problems, and muscle and joint pain. Addison’s disease can lead toadrenal failure, a life-threatening condition.
Graves' Disease
Graves' diseasehappens when the immune system attacks the thyroid, which then produces more hormones than you need. Untreated, Graves' disease can lead to serious problems such as osteoporosis, heart failure, and stroke.
You may be at higher risk of developing Graves' disease if you havevitiligo(a condition causing loss of pigment in patches of skin), type 1 diabetes, RA, or autoimmune gastritis.
How Can You Manage Gout?
If you have hyperuricemia but no symptoms of gout, you don’t need treatment.Gout is very manageable. With treatment and lifestyle changes, many people can avoid flare-ups and have milder symptoms. Some can become gout-free. Without treatment, you may have more frequent and severe flare-ups.
Gout symptoms usually resolve in three to 10 days with treatment.When you have a gout flare-up, it can help to rest your foot. Try not to walk or stand too much and elevate it when possible. You can also apply ice or a cold compress toease the pain.
Treatment for a gout flare-up may include anti-inflammatory medications such as Colcrys (colchicine),nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or oral steroids.
Longer-term medications, such as Zyloprim (allopurinol), Uloric (febuxostat), and Probalan (probenecid), may help lower uric acid levels and the risk of future flares.
Changes to your diet can also help reduce future attacks. These include:
Other ways to prevent future gout flare-ups include:
Summary
Gout is a painful form of arthritis. It usually flares up in one joint at a time, usually the big toe. Gout has a lot in common with certain autoimmune diseases. But autoimmune diseases develop due to a faulty immune system response. Gout develops because you have too much uric acid in your body.
The good news is that gout is manageable in most cases. With treatment, a typical flare-up resolves in three to 10 days. And a few lifestyle changes, especially avoiding certain foods, can help prevent future attacks.
16 SourcesVerywell 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.Galozzi P, Bindoli S, Doria A, Oliviero F, Sfriso P.Autoinflammatory features in gouty arthritis.J Clin Med. 2021;10(9):1880. doi:10.3390/jcm10091880Bodofsky S, Merriman TR, Thomas TJ, Schlesinger N.Advances in our understanding of gout as an auto-inflammatory disease.Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2020;50(5):1089-1100. doi:10.1016/j.semarthrit.2020.06.015Yip K, Berman J.What is gout?JAMA.2021;326(24):2541. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.19770American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Gout.Ekpenyong CE, Clement IU, Edet CE.Risk factors for undiagnosed hyperuricemia and gout: influence of personal characteristics, life style and cardio-metabolic status: a cross sectional study.Eur J Clin Biomed Sci.2019;5(2):27-38. doi:10.11648/j.ejcbs.20190502.11Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: An old disease in new perspective - A review.J Adv Res.2017 Sep;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Autoimmune diseases.American College of Rheumatology.Rheumatoid arthritis.Chiou A, England BR, Sayles H, et al.Coexistent hyperuricemia and gout in rheumatoid arthritis: associations with comorbidities, disease activity, and mortality.Arthritis Care Res(Hoboken). 2020;72(7):950-958. doi:10.1002/acr.23926MedlinePlus.Lupus.López Casado MÁ, Lorite P, Ponce de León C. et al.Celiac disease autoimmunity.Arch. Immunol. Ther. Exp.2018;66:423–43. doi:10.1007/s00005-018-0520-zCrohn’s & Colitis UK.Joints.National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Addison’s disease.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Graves' disease.
16 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.Galozzi P, Bindoli S, Doria A, Oliviero F, Sfriso P.Autoinflammatory features in gouty arthritis.J Clin Med. 2021;10(9):1880. doi:10.3390/jcm10091880Bodofsky S, Merriman TR, Thomas TJ, Schlesinger N.Advances in our understanding of gout as an auto-inflammatory disease.Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2020;50(5):1089-1100. doi:10.1016/j.semarthrit.2020.06.015Yip K, Berman J.What is gout?JAMA.2021;326(24):2541. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.19770American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Gout.Ekpenyong CE, Clement IU, Edet CE.Risk factors for undiagnosed hyperuricemia and gout: influence of personal characteristics, life style and cardio-metabolic status: a cross sectional study.Eur J Clin Biomed Sci.2019;5(2):27-38. doi:10.11648/j.ejcbs.20190502.11Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: An old disease in new perspective - A review.J Adv Res.2017 Sep;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Autoimmune diseases.American College of Rheumatology.Rheumatoid arthritis.Chiou A, England BR, Sayles H, et al.Coexistent hyperuricemia and gout in rheumatoid arthritis: associations with comorbidities, disease activity, and mortality.Arthritis Care Res(Hoboken). 2020;72(7):950-958. doi:10.1002/acr.23926MedlinePlus.Lupus.López Casado MÁ, Lorite P, Ponce de León C. et al.Celiac disease autoimmunity.Arch. Immunol. Ther. Exp.2018;66:423–43. doi:10.1007/s00005-018-0520-zCrohn’s & Colitis UK.Joints.National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Addison’s disease.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Graves' disease.
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.
Galozzi P, Bindoli S, Doria A, Oliviero F, Sfriso P.Autoinflammatory features in gouty arthritis.J Clin Med. 2021;10(9):1880. doi:10.3390/jcm10091880Bodofsky S, Merriman TR, Thomas TJ, Schlesinger N.Advances in our understanding of gout as an auto-inflammatory disease.Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2020;50(5):1089-1100. doi:10.1016/j.semarthrit.2020.06.015Yip K, Berman J.What is gout?JAMA.2021;326(24):2541. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.19770American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Gout.Ekpenyong CE, Clement IU, Edet CE.Risk factors for undiagnosed hyperuricemia and gout: influence of personal characteristics, life style and cardio-metabolic status: a cross sectional study.Eur J Clin Biomed Sci.2019;5(2):27-38. doi:10.11648/j.ejcbs.20190502.11Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: An old disease in new perspective - A review.J Adv Res.2017 Sep;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Autoimmune diseases.American College of Rheumatology.Rheumatoid arthritis.Chiou A, England BR, Sayles H, et al.Coexistent hyperuricemia and gout in rheumatoid arthritis: associations with comorbidities, disease activity, and mortality.Arthritis Care Res(Hoboken). 2020;72(7):950-958. doi:10.1002/acr.23926MedlinePlus.Lupus.López Casado MÁ, Lorite P, Ponce de León C. et al.Celiac disease autoimmunity.Arch. Immunol. Ther. Exp.2018;66:423–43. doi:10.1007/s00005-018-0520-zCrohn’s & Colitis UK.Joints.National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Addison’s disease.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Graves' disease.
Galozzi P, Bindoli S, Doria A, Oliviero F, Sfriso P.Autoinflammatory features in gouty arthritis.J Clin Med. 2021;10(9):1880. doi:10.3390/jcm10091880
Bodofsky S, Merriman TR, Thomas TJ, Schlesinger N.Advances in our understanding of gout as an auto-inflammatory disease.Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2020;50(5):1089-1100. doi:10.1016/j.semarthrit.2020.06.015
Yip K, Berman J.What is gout?JAMA.2021;326(24):2541. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.19770
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Gout.
Ekpenyong CE, Clement IU, Edet CE.Risk factors for undiagnosed hyperuricemia and gout: influence of personal characteristics, life style and cardio-metabolic status: a cross sectional study.Eur J Clin Biomed Sci.2019;5(2):27-38. doi:10.11648/j.ejcbs.20190502.11
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Gout.
Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T.Gout: An old disease in new perspective - A review.J Adv Res.2017 Sep;8(5):495-511. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008
National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Autoimmune diseases.
American College of Rheumatology.Rheumatoid arthritis.
Chiou A, England BR, Sayles H, et al.Coexistent hyperuricemia and gout in rheumatoid arthritis: associations with comorbidities, disease activity, and mortality.Arthritis Care Res(Hoboken). 2020;72(7):950-958. doi:10.1002/acr.23926
MedlinePlus.Lupus.
López Casado MÁ, Lorite P, Ponce de León C. et al.Celiac disease autoimmunity.Arch. Immunol. Ther. Exp.2018;66:423–43. doi:10.1007/s00005-018-0520-z
Crohn’s & Colitis UK.Joints.
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).Addison’s disease.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Graves' disease.
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