A 46-year-old male presents with severe pain, redness, and tenderness in the right big toe. He was diagnosed with gouty arthritis. The symptoms he experienced are caused by the crystallization of _____ within the synovial fluid.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gouty arthritis is caused by the formation of urate crystals in the joints due to elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is a waste product that is normally excreted by the kidneys, but in some individuals, it can accumulate and form crystals in the joints, leading to inflammation and pain. Purines and pyrimidines are nucleotide bases found in DNA and RNA, but they are not directly involved in the pathogenesis of gouty arthritis. Acetic acid is a weak organic acid that has no known association with gout or joint inflammation.

A 46-Year-Old Male Presents with Severe Pain, Redness, and Tenderness