Primary gout has traditionally been associated with obesity, arterial hypertension, and abnormal lipid and glucose homeostasis, but we do not know the prevalence of these vascular risk factors in patients with primary gout from a Mediterranean country.
All patients with primary gout and 2 or more acute arthritis episodes documented by a physician were selected for the study. The diagnosis of MS required ≥3 criteria (ATP III). Patients were classified in two groups: decreased (underexcretors) and normal (normoexcretors) uric acid excretion related to serum urate levels.
One hundred and four patients (mean age, 59 years; 100 males) with primary gout were included in the study. MS was diagnosed in 38 subjects (37%). The most frequent triad defining MS was an increased waist circumference, blood pressure, and trygliceride levels. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) was significantly higher in patients with the MS (21/38, 55%) as compared with subjects without the MS (3/66, 5%; p<0.001). Mean serum urate level in patients with and without MS was identical (8.1 mg/dL), but mean 24-hour uric acid excretion was significantly lower in the former than in the latter (444±110 mg/24-hour/1,73 m2 versus 546±221 mg/day/1,73 m2; p=0.009).
The condition of the MS occurs in about one-third of the patients with primary gout. Increased waist circumference, blood pressure, and triglycerides levels is the most frequent MS triad. Diminished urinary uric acid excretion is more severe in gout patients with the MS.