Gout Health Center

Because symptoms can often be vague or subtle, gout can be difficult to diagnosis. The presence of hyperuricemia does not guarantee an individual has gout or will ever get it. Most people who do have hyperuricemia never progress to developing gout.

To confirm the presence of gout, a doctor or health care professional may insert a needle into the inflamed joint and draw a sample of synovial fluid, the liquid that provides lubrication for each joint. This joint fluid is placed on a slide and examined beneath a microscope in search of uric acid crystals.

Gout can sometimes mimic other conditions such as joint infections, and it is essential to rule out opposing conditions in order to receive proper treatment. An individual may have gout if he or she has uric acid crystals in addition to common symptoms of gout, including more than one attack of acute arthritis, arthritis that develops in one day producing a swollen joint and an acute attack in only one joint.

Review Date: 
August 2, 2012
Last Updated:
August 6, 2014
Source:
dailyrx.com