Colchicine for prophylaxis of acute flares when initiating allopurinol for chronic gouty arthritis.

Objective: The use of colchicine to prevent acute gout flares during initiation of allopurinol therapy is widely practiced despite lack of proven benefit. We investigated if colchicine administration during initiation of allopurinol for chronic gouty arthritis reduces the frequency and/or severity of acute gout flares.

Methods: Patients starting allopurinol for crystal-proven chronic gouty arthritis were randomized to receive colchicine 0.

Effect of low dose daily aspirin on serum urate levels and urinary excretion in patients receiving probenecid for gouty arthritis.

Objective: To determine if low dose daily enteric coated aspirin significantly affects the therapeutic actions of probenecid with respect to serum urate levels or urinary urate excretion.

Methods: Patients with gouty arthritis taking a stable dose of probenecid for at least 3 months were enrolled in a prospective crossover study. Twenty-four hour urinary and serum uric acid levels were measured after 14 days in patients crossed over to receive probenecid alone; probenecid and aspirin 325 mg taken concomitantly; and probenecid followed by aspirin 325 mg at 6 hours.

Gout and hyperuricemia.

Gout is a condition characterized by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in the joints or soft tissue. The four phases of gout include asymptomatic hyperuricemia, acute gouty arthritis, intercritical gout and chronic tophaceous gout. The peak incidence occurs in patients 30 to 50 years old, and the condition is much more common in men than in women.

Polyarteritis with symptomatic intracerebral aneurysms at initial presentation.

Polyarteritis rarely involves the cerebral vasculature, and has not been reported to have an initial presentation with intracerebral aneurysms. We describe the first case of polyarteritis presenting with symptomatic intracerebral aneurysms. A literature review from 1966 to 1997 identified 5 additional cases with evidence of intracerebral aneurysms and polyarteritis.