Goutis a painful inflammatory condition.
Symptoms of gout often mimic those of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
When symptoms hit, you may wonder what causes it and if you have an autoimmune disease.
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lucia_lucci / Getty Images
Is Gout an Autoimmune Disease?
Gout is due to excess uric acid in the body.
Uric acid crystals form in the joints and tissues, and the body reacts to these with inflammation.
Gout is an auto-inflammatory disease, but not an autoimmune disease.
Similar to many autoimmune diseases,gouttends to have periods of active inflammation followed by periods of remission.
But in autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue.
Gout causes acute inflammation in one or more joints, known as agout flare-up.
It often presents with sudden, intense pain and swelling.
These attacks occur as crystallized uric acid builds up in the joint.
Gout is most likely to occur in the big toe.
Untreated gout can cause permanent joint damage, known as chronic gouty arthritis.
In addition, crystals of uric acid can leave hard lumps calledtophiin the skin.
What Causes Gout?
Your body makesuric acidas it breaks down chemicals called purines.
And at levels above 10 mg/dL, only half had gout over 15 years.
Researchers have identified at least 13 inflammatory pathway genes that may be involved in the development of gout.
Some people experience flare-ups frequently, while others go years between symptoms.
Untreated, flares mayworsen over time, happening more often, lasting longer, and involving more joints.
What Is an Autoimmune Disease?
The immune system attacks foreign organisms and substances to guard against disease and infection.
When you have anautoimmune disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells.
As with gout, people with autoimmune disorders may experience flare-ups of disease activity.
It’s not clear exactly what causes someone to develop an autoimmune disease.
Treatment may involveanti-inflammatory drugsand/orimmunosuppressants.
It’s classically a symmetrical disease, affecting the same joints on both sides of the body.
Without treatment, RA can lead to permanent joint damage.
It can also affect the lungs, eyes, and skin.
RA and goutshare similar symptoms, and it’s possible to have both.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye grains.
Researchers believe it may develop due to a combination of many different genetic and nongenetic factors.
Some people with celiac disease develop joint pain symptoms.
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s diseaseis aninflammatory bowel diseasethat mainly affects the digestive system.
It is considered immune-mediated.
Common symptoms include fatigue, skin discoloration, gastrointestinal problems, and muscle and joint pain.
Addison’s disease can lead toadrenal failure, a life-threatening condition.
Untreated, Graves' disease can lead to serious problems such as osteoporosis, heart failure, and stroke.
How Can You Manage Gout?
If you have hyperuricemia but no symptoms of gout, you don’t need treatment.Gout is very manageable.
With treatment and lifestyle changes, many people can avoid flare-ups and have milder symptoms.
Some can become gout-free.
Without treatment, you may have more frequent and severe flare-ups.
Try not to walk or stand too much and elevate it when possible.
you’re free to also apply ice or a cold compress toease the pain.
Changes to your diet can also help reduce future attacks.
It usually flares up in one joint at a time, usually the big toe.
Gout has a lot in common with certain autoimmune diseases.
But autoimmune diseases develop due to a faulty immune system response.
Gout develops because you have too much uric acid in your body.
The good news is that gout is manageable in most cases.
With treatment, a typical flare-up resolves in three to 10 days.
And a few lifestyle changes, especially avoiding certain foods, can help prevent future attacks.
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