Excessive use of alcohol can lead to hyperuricemia because it interferes with the removal of uric acid from the body. Eating too many foods that are rich in purines can cause or aggravate gout. An enzyme defect that interferes with the way the body breaks down purines causes gout in a small number of people. Exposure to lead in the environment can cause gout. Some people are at risk for high levels of uric acid in body fluids because of certain medicines they take or other conditions they may have.
Many people take diuretics for hypertension, edema, or cardiovascular disease.
Salicylates, or medicines made from salicylic acid, such as aspirin. The vitamin niacin, also called nicotinic acid. Cyclosporine, a medicine used to control the body s rejection of transplanted organs. Levodopa, a medicine used to treat Parkinson s disease. Gout occurs in approximately 275 out of every 100,000 people.