From the Popular Press: What Your Patients are Reading:

Two new genes have been identified by researchers and associated with an increased risk of elevated uric acid levels in the blood, which can lead to gout. Researchers also confirmed the role of a third gene in gout. Gout is a common and particularly painful form of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in the bloodstream, which can form uric acid crystals that accumulate in joints and cause swelling and pain. Almost 3 million Americans are estimated to suffer from gout, which, left untreated, can cause permanent damage to affected joints and possibly the kidneys. A combination of variation on the three genes can put an individual at up to a 40-fold increased risk for developing gout. With further research experts hope this finding will lead to the development of genetic testing that will identify individuals at high risk for gout, and possibly develop preventive treatment for such individuals that will prevent the development of gout.

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