Gout: What you need to know

What is gout?

An acute gout attack occurs when monosodium urate crystals form and deposit in a joint due to elevated uric acid levels in the blood. These sharp crystals are recognized by the immune system as a threat, triggering activation of inflammatory pathways, including the inflammasome, and leading to the release of cytokines such as interleukin-1. This causes a rapid influx of inflammatory cells into the joint, resulting in the sudden onset of severe pain, swelling, redness, and warmth that characteriz