Gout Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnostic Considerations

• Synovial fluid analysis remains the gold standard for diagnosing acute gout when clinical judgment indicates diagnostic testing is necessary and when an effusion is accessible, as recommended by the American College of Physicians, based on evidence from the Annals of Internal Medicine 1

Treatment Options

• The American College of Rheumatology recommends that first-line treatment options for gout remain the same, whether or not effusion is present, including NSAIDs, colchicine, or glucocorticoids (oral, intraarticular when applicable, or intramuscular), according to guidelines summarized by the European League Against Rheumatism, with a strength of evidence supported by multiple studies 2