Skeletal muscle mass and quality in gout patients versus non-gout controls: A computed tomography imaging study.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with gout are at elevated risk of multiple vascular and metabolic comorbidities. Whether they are also at risk of sarcopenia, which is known to affect patients with other rheumatic diseases, has not been previously assessed. We examined whether patients with gout have decreased lumbar muscle quality and quantity, indicating an association between gout and sarcopenia. METHODS: Fifty gout subjects and 25 controls, ages 45-80, underwent computed tomography imaging of the lumbosacral spine. We measured muscle quantity (skeletal muscle area [SMA] and index [SMI]) and quality (skeletal muscle radiation attenuation [SMRA] and intermuscular adipose tissue [IMAT] area and index [IMATI]) of the psoas and erector spinae muscles at the L3 level. RESULTS: Seventy subjects (45 gout and 25 controls) were included in the analysis. Gout subjects had higher BMI, more kidney disease and hypertension, lower exercise frequency, and higher mean serum urate and creatinine vs. controls. Lumbar SMRA was significantly lower in gout subjects vs. controls, indicating reduced muscle quality. Lumbar IMAT area was significantly higher in gout subjects vs. controls, as was lumbar IMATI, indicating increased muscle adiposity. These differences persisted after adjusting for potential confounders. In contrast, there was no significant difference between gout and control groups in lumbar SMA or lumbar SMI, suggesting that muscle quantity may not be routinely affected by the diagnosis of gout. CONCLUSIONS: Gout patients exhibit decreased lumbar muscle quality compared with controls, consistent with an association between gout and sarcopenia.

Post-hoc analysis of pegloticase pivotal trials in chronic refractory gout: relationship between fluctuations in plasma urate levels and acute flares.

OBJECTIVES: To determine factors associated with gout flares in subjects treated with pegloticase. METHODS: Gout flares from two randomised controlled trials comparing pegloticase (8 mg every 2 weeks [q2] or monthly [q4]) versus placebo were analysed. Responders had persistent urate lowering (<6mg/dL) whereas, non-responders had transient urate lowering during the 6-month RCTs. Gout flares (self-reported) were defined as acute joint pain and swelling requiring treatment. Gout flare prophylaxis (colchicine, 0.6 mg once or twice daily, or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) was initiated 1 week before the first infusion and continued throughout the study. Plasma urate at the time of flare and the change in urate preceding a flare were analysed. RESULTS: Mean flare rates increased with pegloticase versus placebo during the first 3 months followed by marked reductions during months 4-6. The increase in flares with pegloticase during the first 3 months was most evident (p=0.0006) and the decrease during the second 3 months was least marked (p=0.0006) in subjects receiving monthly pegloticase. Fluctuation in urate levels was highest in monthly responders (p=0.002) and was associated with flare occurrence. Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated the only variables significantly associated with flares were treatment group and absolute change in plasma urate before flares. CONCLUSIONS: Pegloticase treatment increased flares during the first 3 months of treatment in all groups when plasma urate was significantly lowered and was followed by a decline in months 4-6 in patients maintaining a low plasma urate. Flares associated with pegloticase treatment were associated with decreases and fluctuations in plasma urate levels.

Dissociation Between Clinical Benefit and Persistent Urate Lowering in Patients with Chronic Refractory Gout Treated with Pegloticase.

OBJECTIVE: To assess clinical benefit in patients with chronic refractory gout who did not meet the protocol-defined criteria of responders to pegloticase. METHODS: This analysis used results from 2 randomized controlled trials (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00325195, NCT01356498) to assess the clinical efficacy in responders and nonresponders to treatment (8 mg of pegloticase every 2 weeks). Serum urate was measured before each infusion and the following were recorded: assessment of gout flares, tophus reduction, patient's global assessment (PtGA), tender and swollen joints (TJC and SJC), pain using a 100-mm visual analog scale, and a variety of patient-reported outcomes [Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 questionnaire physical component summary score and arthritis-specific health index (ASHI) score]. RESULTS: The analysis included 36 persistent urate responders, 49 nonresponders, and 43 patients who received placebo. Results for both responders and nonresponders indicated significant reduction in tophi and improvements from baseline in PtGA, TJC, SJC, pain, and ASHI. No significant improvements were observed in the patients who received placebo. CONCLUSION: Chronic refractory gout patients not achieving protocol-defined persistent urate lowering still achieve significant clinical benefits with pegloticase treatment, suggesting that transient reduction in serum urate may result in sustained clinical benefit.

The Challenges of Approaching and Managing Gout.

Despite many effective treatments for gout, its management remains a challenge internationally. Options for optimizing gout management may differ in different practice sizes and settings. Gout incidence is rising and it continues to be associated with increased mortality. Education of patients and medical providers is essential, and newer gout medications need to be used in the most appropriate ways for cost-effective therapy. Special consideration needs to be given to such populations as the elderly and those with renal and cardiovascular disease in gout management. New agents are in development, which may add to the armamentarium for gout management.

How Can We Improve Disease Education in People with Gout?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Gout management is currently suboptimal despite excellent available therapy. Gout patient education has been shown to enhance medication adherence and self-management, but needs improvement. We explored the literature on gout patient education including gaps in gout patient knowledge; use of written materials; in-person individual and group sessions; education via nurses, pharmacists, or multi-disciplinary groups; and use of phone, web-based, mobile health app, and text messaging educational efforts. RECENT FINDINGS: Nurse-led interventions have shown significant improvement in reaching urate goals. Pharmacist-led programs have likewise succeeded, but to a lesser degree. A multi-disciplinary approach has shown feasibility. Needs-assessments, patient questionnaires, and psychosocial evaluations can enhance targeted education. An interactive and patient-centered approach can enhance gout educational interventions. Optimal programs will assess for and address educational needs related to knowledge gaps, health literacy, race, gender, socio-economic status, and level of social support.

Persistent wrist monarthritis: down to the bone.

A minority of osteoid osteomas are found to be juxta-articular and within the small bones of the wrist. We present a 30-year-old man diagnosed with an osteoid osteoma of the lunate bone, presenting with 3 years of left wrist pain, swelling and reduced range of motion. Given the patient's background and laboratory testing, consideration was given to both inflammatory and infectious causes and the diagnosis was delayed, requiring repeat interval imaging and assisted by multiple imaging modalities. Management by surgical excision led to resolution of pain and swelling. In cases of a prolonged isolated monarthritis, juxta-articular osteoid osteoma should be considered in the differential.

Pilot study of a multidisciplinary gout patient education and monitoring program.

OBJECTIVE: Gout patient self-management knowledge and adherence to treatment regimens are poor. Our objective was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a multidisciplinary team-based pilot program for the education and monitoring of gout patients. METHODS: Subjects completed a gout self-management knowledge exam, along with gout flare history and compliance questionnaires, at enrollment and at 6 and 12 months. Each exam was followed by a nursing educational intervention via a structured gout curriculum. Structured monthly follow-up calls from pharmacists emphasized adherence to management programs. Primary outcomes were subject and provider program evaluation questionnaires at 6 and 12 months, program retention rate and success in reaching patients via monthly calls. RESULTS: Overall, 40/45 subjects remained in the study at 12 months. At 12 months, on a scale of 1 (most) to 5 (least), ratings of 3 or better were given by 84.6% of subjects evaluating the usefulness of the overall program in understanding and managing their gout, 81.0% of subjects evaluating the helpfulness of the nursing education program, and 50.0% of subjects evaluating the helpfulness of the calls from the pharmacists. Knowledge exam questions that were most frequently answered incorrectly on repeat testing concerned bridge therapy, the possibility of being flare-free, and the genetic component of gout. CONCLUSIONS: Our multidisciplinary program of gout patient education and monitoring demonstrates feasibility and acceptability. We identified variability in patient preference for components of the program and persistent patient knowledge gaps.

Pachydermodactyly: A Case Report Including Histopathology.

Pachydermodactyly (PDD) is a rare form of digital fibromatosis characterized by painless soft tissue swelling, primarily about the proximal interphalangeal joints. The skin at the metacarpophalangeal joints, the palm, and the dorsum of the hand may also be involved. Because swelling can occur over the proximal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints, PDD may be confused with juvenile inflammatory arthropathy and may even occur concurrently. We present the clinical and histopathologic findings of a case of PDD characterized by bilateral proximal phalangeal involvement of the index through little fingers.

Fellow use of medical jargon correlates inversely with patient and observer perceptions of professionalism: results of a rheumatology OSCE (ROSCE) using challenging patient scenarios.

The NYC Rheumatology Objective Structured Clinical Examination (NYC-ROSCE) is held annually to assess fellow competencies. We recently redesigned our OSCE to better assess subspecialty trainee communication skills and professionalism by developing scenarios in which the patients encountered were psychosocially or medically complex. The objective of this study is to identify which types of verbal and non-verbal skills are most important in the perception of professionalism in the patient-physician interaction. The 2012-2013 NYC-ROSCEs included a total of 53 fellows: 55 MD evaluators from 7 NYC rheumatology training programs (Hospital for Special Surgery-Weill Cornell (HSS), SUNY/Downstate, NYU, Einstein, Columbia, Mount Sinai, and North Shore/Long Island Jewish (NSLIJ)), and 55 professional actors/standardized patients participated in 5 stations. Quantitative fellow performance assessments were made on the following: maintaining composure; partnering with the patient; honesty; professionalism; empathy; and accountability. Free-text comments were solicited regarding specific strengths and weaknesses. A total of 53/53 eligible (100 %) fellows were evaluated. MD evaluators rated fellows lower for professionalism than did the standardized patients (6.8 ± 0.6 vs. 7.4 ± 0.8, p = 0.05), suggesting that physicians and patients view professionalism somewhat differently. Fellow self-evaluations for professionalism (6.6 ± 1.2) were concordant with those of the MD evaluators. Ratings of empathy by fellows themselves (6.6 ± 1.0), MD evaluators (6.6 ± 0.7), and standardized patients (6.6 ± 1.1) agreed closely. Jargon use, frequently cited by evaluators, showed a moderate association with lower professionalism ratings by both MD evaluators and patients. Psychosocially challenging patient encounters in the NYC-ROSCE permitted critical assessment of the patient-centered traits contributing to impressions of professionalism and indicate that limiting medical jargon is an important component of the competency of professionalism.

The broad spectrum of urate crystal deposition: unusual presentations of gouty tophi.

OBJECTIVES: Gout is typically described as an inflammatory arthropathy that affects the peripheral joints. Our aim was to describe atypical and rare clinical presentations of gouty tophi to help increase physician awareness and aid in patient care. METHODS: The relevant English literature of unusual gout manifestations was searched using the keywords gout, toph*, monosodium urate, uric acid, unusual, and rare. Well-described case reports, case series, and review articles were evaluated and included, if relevant, in the literature review. RESULTS: Review of the literature revealed many unusual manifestations of gouty tophi involving the head and neck, skin, viscera, bones, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and axial skeleton. Transplant recipients, women, and elderly people are particularly susceptible to developing tophi. Furthermore, gout can cause diagnostic dilemmas, as it can be a great mimicker of and can coexist with infection, malignancy, and other connective tissue diseases. Imaging modalities can help detect tophi in atypical locations. CONCLUSIONS: Tophi can present in unexpected locations, even as the first sign of gout, and vigilance is required when unusual symptoms or signs occur in a patient with gout.