Comparison of a gout course in males and females.
The trial enrolled 34 patients (17 females and 17 males). The patients were matched by age and the disease duration. Severity of a gout course was assessed by the disease history, articular syndrome, concomitant diseases, blood biochemistry. Statistical processing was made with a computer program "Statistica 6.0".
Events predisposing to purin metabolism disturbances and, therefore, to development of gout occur more frequently in females than in males. For the most part this concerns arterial hypertension and intake of diuretics. Women often have endocrine pathology (artificial menopause, dysmenorrhea, euthyroid goiter). In women gout runs a more severe course manifesting in early chronization, polyarticularity, lingering arthritis, rapid formation of tophuses. Both groups demonstrated marked polymorbidity with accumulation of the diseases related to atherosclerosis. Distinct group differences by content of uric acid seem to arise from early onset of chronic renal failure in women.
In the absence of sex- and age-related differences, a more severe course of gout is observed in women. This may be due to hyperuricemia and a trend to the disease chronization, high prevalence of arterial hypertension and renal failure.