Question

why a patient with gout is more likely to develop renal calculi.

Answer 1

Solution

Gout is a basically a inflammatory arthritic disease usually characterized by red, hot, and swollen joint which is due to the elevated uric acid concentration in the blood. This occurs in the elderly owing to regular unhealthy diet, other health issues or several genetic factors associated with it. A further elevated level of uric acid crystallizes and the crystals tend to deposit in the joint, tendon or surrounding tissue and ultimately attack of gout.

Patient with gout typically forms acidic urine owing to the inappropriate production of ammonia. This might happen due to the defect in the renal system which may be inherent or associated with tubular damage caused by urate crystal deposition. Further a gout patient has higher risk for renal calculi due to the lower pH of urine which helps to create the ideal environment for the precipitation of uric acid. Moreover it might increase the risk of formation of calcium oxalate stone followed by development of the heterogeneous nuclei in presence of the low pH urine owing to the precipitation of uric acid. Thus the gout patients are more prone to develop renal calculi.

In conclusion, both renal calculi and gout are mostly related disorders among men. Thus, a medical practitioner should warn a patient with gout regarding the consequence of the consistently high level of uric acid in blood and suggest dietary modifications to reduce the chance of formation of renal calculi followed by renal impairment.