Uric Acid Relapses Often, the Risk of Heart Attacks and Strokes Increases

Uric acid levels need to be managed properly.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Gouty arthritis or disease gout It is an inflammatory joint disease caused by high uric acid levels. The condition of gout needs to be managed properly, because its recurrence can increase the risk heart attack and stroke.

“This is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis,” said Dr Ethan Craig, assistant professor of rheumatology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Huffington PostAhad (7/8/2022).

Gouty arthritis is basically caused by an immune reaction to monosodium urate crystals in the joints. These crystals are formed when uric acid in the blood has high levels.

Sufferer gouty arthritis can relapse when exposed to a trigger that makes the immune system detect the presence of monosodium urate crystals in the joints. This recurrence can lead to complaints such as pain in the joints, as well as swelling or redness of the toes, knees, and ankles.

The recurrence of gouty arthritis can vary greatly from patient to patient. This condition can even become chronic or last for a long time and trigger damage to the joints.

Besides being able to interfere with joint health, repeated recurrence of gouty arthritis can also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. This was revealed in a study involving 62,574 participants and has been published in the journal JAMA.

The study found that the recurrence of gouty arthritis often occurred some time before the patient had a heart attack or stroke. The probability of recurrence of gouty arthritis in the 60 days before the attack is doubled, while the probability of recurrence in the 61-120 days before the attack is 1.5 times.

These findings suggest that there is an increased risk of heart attack or stroke approximately four months after the recurrence of gouty arthritis occurs. “People with gout have a tendency to have more cardiovascular risk factors,” said the research team.

Not only that, the research team also found that gout can make sufferers experience severe inflammation or inflammation. This inflammation can manifest as swelling, redness, to joint pain that lasts for 1-2 weeks.

“These (relapse) episodes, which are referred to as gout flares, often occur. Inflammation is also a risk factor for heart attack and stroke,” said the research team.