[Uric acid crystals and chemotactic cytokines--pathogenesis of an acute gout attack].

The identification of monosodium urate crystals in synovial fluid is essential for the definite diagnosis of gout. Neutrophils interact with urate crystals to produce inflammatory reactions associated with acute arthritis. Crystals activate monocyte-macrophages and synoviocytes to produce high levels of proinflammatory cytokines, like TNF alpha und interleukin-1 and different chemokines. High levels of interleukin-8, a powerful neutrophil attractant with activating properties, were demonstrated in the synovial fluid of patients with acute gout arthritis.