Gout Gout Gout is the principal clinical manifestation of sustained hyperuricaemia. Men are 10 times more likely to have gout than women. Gout is very uncommon before puberty, when it usually suggests an enzyme defect.
Uric acid is derived from the breakdown of purine bases.
Seventy-five percent of uric acid is excreted in the kidneys and the remainder is lost in the gut. Uric acid circulates as monosodium urate, but is found mainly as the free acid in the urine. In hyperuricaemia urate is usually present in the blood as a supersaturated solution. Lowering of the pH lessens the solubility and increases the likelihood of crystal formation. Causes of hyperuricaemia Diuritec drugs are the main cause of hyperuricaemia.