Chronic gout: Barriers to effective management.

Background: Gout is one of the most common inflammatory arthropathies, and the pathogenesis is well understood. In Australia, most patients with chronic tophaceous gout (CTG) are treated by general practitioners (GPs). Urate-lowering therapy, if adhered to continuously, can suppress the disease, reduce the likelihood of flares and prevent long-term complications such as disfiguring tophi and joint damage.