Gout

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Symptoms
• Causes and Risk Factors
• Triggers
• Diagnosis
• Treatment: Acute Gout Attac...
• Treatment: Preventing Attac...
• Other Treatments
• Lifestyle Changes
• Complications
• Resources
• References

• Primary gout: The cause is usually unknown. However, primary gout is likely the result of a combination of genetic, hormonal, and dietary factors.
• Secondary gout: Secondary gout is caused by medications or medical conditions that cause an increase in the serum (blood) levels of uric acid.

• Advancing age
• Male gender
• Family history of the condition
• Obesity
• Use of certain drugs, including diuretics, aspirin, cyclosporine, or levodopa
• Drinking a large amount of alcohol, particularly beer
• Exposure to lead
• Organ transplants
• Thyroid problems

• Severe pain at and around the joint
  • May feel like "crushing" or a dislocated bone
  • Walking and the weight of bed sheets may be unbearable
  • Usually takes 8 - 12 hours to develop
  • Occurs late at night or early in the morning and may wake you up
• Swelling that may extend beyond the joint
• Red, shiny, tense skin over the affected area, which may peel after a few days
• Chills and mild fever, loss of appetite, and feelings of ill health

Uveitis

• Definition
• Alternative Names
• Causes, incidence, and risk factors
• Symptoms
• Signs and tests
• Treatment
• Expectations (prognosis)
• Complications
• Calling your health care provider
• Prevention

Cataracts

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Causes
• Symptoms
• Prognosis
• Risk Factors
• Prevention
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Resources
• References

Rheumatoid arthritis

• Highlights
• Introduction
• Causes
• Risk Factors
• Symptoms
• Complications
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Medications
• Surgery
• Lifestyle Changes
• Resources
• References

• Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who do not respond to single-drug therapy often do better when a combination of drugs is used, indicates a review of 23 clinical trials published in 2007 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. However, the researchers were unable to determine which combinations of drugs work best or which individual drugs are more effective than others.
• Combination drug treatment is now becoming a standard approach to treating rheumatoid arthritis while it is still in its early stages. Another 2007 Annals of Internal Medicine study indicated that initial combination therapies slow progression of joint damage more rapidly than single-drug therapy but, after several years, all treatment strategies produce benefits.