You are a physician, and a patient presents with pain in his big toe.His diet includes significant amounts of caffeine and nucleic acids.You suspect gout and draw fluid from the inflamed joint.The presence of _______ would help confirm your diagnosis.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of uric acid in the fluid drawn from the inflamed joint would help confirm a diagnosis of gout. Gout is caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, typically the big toe, and a high level of uric acid in the joint fluid is a hallmark of the disease. Carbon dioxide, water, ammonia, and urea are unlikely to be present at high enough levels to aid in the diagnosis of gout.

You Are a Physician, and a Patient Presents with Pain