February 2024

Gout Won't Break Hearts This Month

Hello Gout Education,


The Gout Education Society is committed to raising awareness of gout—the most common form of inflammatory arthritis and how to manage it for the long term. The Society offers a variety of free, unbiased resources at GoutEducation.org to help you learn more about gout and treatment options.


Hearts and love are most commonly thought of together during February. But what about hearts and gout? This month, the Society wants to bring attention to connection of gout with heart health, related conditions and share helpful educational resources.


The two are interconnected as the root cause for gout, uric acid, is a risk factor for both hypertension and heart disease. Uric acid has also been linked to coronary disease, including heart attack and stroke. Furthermore, gout flares or inflammation can worsen heart disease, which in turn can limit treatment options, like corticosteroids.


Those with gout can reduce the burden of the disease on their body and protect their heart by lowering their uric acid level to 6.0 mg/dL or below. Additionally, it's important to monitor metabolic levels such as blood pressure and cholesterol and ensure they are within healthy ranges. By addressing the burden of gout on the body and improving one's underlying well-being, the risk for related heart health conditions can be reduced.


Your doctor can help you with both of these by prescribing uric acid lowering medications, such as allopurinol or febuxostat and recommending diet/lifestyle modifications.


Have any questions or need resources? Email us: info@gouteducation.org.

Featured Cartoon





Don't let gout break your heart this month. Talk to your doctor and get your uric acid below 6.0 mg/dL to reduce the risk for heart related issues.




Visit our Cartoon Library

New Blog: Gout Flares and Heart Disease - Two Birds, One Stone?

By: Dr. Ted Mikuls, MD, MSPH

Recently, Dr. Ted Mikuls, rheumatologist and member of the International Advisory Council for the Gout Education Society wrote an article on benefits of colchicine on not only gout, but heart disease treatment as well.

Read Dr. Mikul's Blog

Clinical Trial Opportunity: Have Hyperuricemia?


LG Chem is looking for 350 participants across several different regions to try out Tigulixostat, a medication designed to stop the enzyme that metabolizes purines. Purines are the compounds that become uric acid. When built up over time, this can cause hyperuricemia, which is the root cause of gout.


Tigulixostat is classified as a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, similar to allopurinol or febuxostat. The Phase 3 clinical trial intends to test the drug’s effectiveness for six months in people with hyperuricemia, versus those who are given a placebo.


Find out here if you are eligible to participate

Clinical Trial Seeks People with an Acute Gout Attack


Olatec Therapeutics is seeking participants for its Phase 2/3 clinical trial in patients with an acute gout flare. The objective of the clinical trial is to test an oral anti-inflammatory, called dapansutrile, which is an investigational drug not yet approved by FDA. The trial will assess the effectiveness of dapansutrile in treating inflammatory pain over 8 days in people with gout who are experiencing an acute gout attack versus those who are given a placebo. Rescue treatment is offered if pain remains intolerable while on study. 


The trial is seeking participants located throughout the USA and in Europe. 


To find out if you're eligible please visit clinicaltrials.gov and/or contact gout@olatec.com

Clinical Trial Seeks People Around Houston


Advanced Rheumatology of Houston is seeking participants with diagnosed gout for research on treatment options for the disease. Participants must be willing to commit time for study visits at the practice's clinic in The Woodlands, Texas.


To find out if you are eligible or to sign up please contact Advanced Rheumatology of Houston at (936) 681 4882

Gout in the News

Stay up to date on the most recent gout news

VeryWell Health

Foods to eat and avoid with gout


MedScape

Target these serum urate levels to prevent gout flares and hospitalizations


Salem News

Arthritis can be found in people of all ages


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