indications for long term drug therapy

Last reviewed 01/2018

Indications for drugs to prevent gout include:

  • recurrent attacks (> 1 attack per year)
  • chronic arthropathy
  • tophi
  • urate renal calculi
  • renal impairment
  • evidence of joint damage such as radiological changes
  • who need to continue treatment with diuretics (1)
However, in practice, the decision concerning whether to initiate prophylaxis is often left to patient preference (2).

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