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Gout glossary: the terms in plain language

Prepared 2026-10-29 · Read as Markdown

You should not need to memorize the vocabulary to understand your care. Use this reference when a test report, prescription discussion, or article introduces an unfamiliar term.

Gout and symptoms

Term Meaning
Gout Inflammatory arthritis associated with monosodium urate crystal deposits.
Flare An episode of symptomatic inflammation.
Intercritical gout The period between flares.
Tophus; tophi One deposit, or several deposits, of urate crystals with a surrounding tissue response.
Hyperuricemia High blood urate; it can occur without gout.

These terms describe different aspects of disease, rather than interchangeable diagnoses. S06

Biology and test results

Purines are normal cellular compounds involved in urate production. Foods contain different amounts and forms. Serum urate is the blood measurement, commonly reported in mg/dL or µmol/L. Total food purines measures the sum of tested bases in food, commonly in mg per 100 g. ND means not detected under the test conditions, rather than established absolute zero. S27 S29

Treatment

  • ULT: urate-lowering therapy.
  • Treat to target: adjust treatment toward an agreed measured goal.
  • Prophylaxis: preventive treatment, such as an anti-inflammatory during early ULT.
  • Xanthine oxidase inhibitor: a medicine that reduces urate production.
  • Uricosuric: a medicine that increases urate removal in urine.
  • Uricase: an enzyme approach converting urate into a substance that is more readily eliminated. S02 S07

Diagnosis

Aspiration, or arthrocentesis, removes joint fluid for analysis. DECT means dual-energy computed tomography. CPPD is calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, a different crystal-related condition. Septic arthritis means infection of a joint and needs urgent assessment. S03 S05

Reading evidence

A randomized trial compares allocated interventions. An observational association does not on its own prove cause. A conditional recommendation calls for individual consideration. A surrogate outcome, such as a short-term urate change, is not automatically proof of fewer attacks or better long-term function. S02 S15

Sources