Gout.

Gout is a common disease in the primary health care setting. Diagnosis of primary gout is definite if urate crystals are present in synovial fluid or tophi. The colchicine therapeutic trial is a useful diagnostic aid but not specific. Secondary gout is associated with myeloproliferative disease. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents or colchicine are the main stays of treatment in acute gouty arthritis. In the inter-critical period, uricosuric agents or allopurinol can be used to control hyperuricaemia. Allopurinol is the treatment of choice in secondary gout. Asymptomatic hyperuricaemia is not an indication for therapy.