Gout Basics & Diagnosis

Women can develop gout, particularly after menopause. Although gout is more common in men, a suddenly painful, hot, swollen joint in a woman deserves the same careful assessment. The underlying disease is the same: urate crystals accumulate in and around joints and trigger inflammation. What can differ is the age at diagnosis, the medical conditions … Read more

Gout and pseudogout can both cause sudden, severe joint pain, warmth, and swelling. The main difference is the type of crystal involved: gout involves monosodium urate crystals, while pseudogout involves calcium pyrophosphate crystals. Because the symptoms overlap, the appearance or location of a swollen joint cannot reliably tell you which condition you have. Getting the … Read more