SERUM URATE NOT ALWAYS ELEVATED DURING ACUTE GOUT

J Rheumatol. 2009 Apr 15. [Epub ahead of print]

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Serum Urate During Acute Gout.

Schlesinger N, Norquist JM, Watson DJ.

From the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey; and Merck Research Laboratories, Department of Epidemiology, North Wales, Pennsylvania, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To study the frequency of normal serum urate (SU) levels during acute gout in the largest studies of acute gout treatment to date. METHODS: Data collected from 2 randomized controlled clinical trials assessing the efficacy of etoricoxib or indomethacin for 7 days in acute gout were used to assess SU levels during acute gouty attacks. Efficacy was similar with both agents, so both groups were combined for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 339 patients were enrolled in the 2 studies; 94% were male; mean age was 50.5 years. At baseline, 14% of patients had a "true" normal SU (