Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia

Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia: Redefining Early Urate Disease

An observational study to evaluate the prevalence of US changes of gout in the joints and tendons of patients with different degrees of asymptomatic hyperuricemia. The investigators' findings may support the extension of the spectrum of urate disease, and define a subset of patients that may benefit from early urate-lowering therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients must have at least one serum uric acid level l ≥ 7.0 mg/dL within the last two years without a clinical diagnosis of gout per American College of Rheumatology criteria30 (appendix A).
2. Patients, of matched gender and age, with normal uric acid levels will serve as controls.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who meet or have met the ACR criteria for Gout, unable to read English, and/or have terminal illness will not be eligible to participate in the study.
2. Patients with a diagnosis of skin psoriasis31, rheumatoid arthritis, or spondyloarthropathies will not be eligible to participate.
3. Patients who are on urate-lowering therapy.
4. Patients with 1 or 2 total knee replacements.