Centre for Policy on Ageing



Managing hyperuricemia and gout in the geriatric patient
Author(s)	William E Wade, James W Cooper
Journal title	Journal of Geriatric Drug Therapy, vol 12, no 4, 1999
Pages	pp 73-86
Keywords	Urogenital system diseases ; Endocrine diseases ; Drugs.
Annotation	Hyperuricaemia and gout are common problems in older people, that should be anticipated and treated differently than in younger people. The risks of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), intravenous (IV) and oral colchine are reviewed. Intra-articular or systemic steroids may be preferable to NSAIDs for treatment of acute gout in older people with a history of NSAID or low-dose aspirin usage or NSAID gastropathy. Since 90% of primary gout is due to under-excretion of urate, allopurinal in all doses adjusted for creatinine clearance is the preferred therapy for prophylaxis of gouty attacks. Uricosuric drugs are not usually indicated, since less than 10% of primary gout is due to uric acid overproduction, and the renal function of most older people may contra-indicate use of these medications. Drug classes such as thiazide diuretics, low-dose aspirin and alcohol use may predispose older people to gout. Asymptomic hyperuricaemia treatment is not indicated in the absence of gout damage to the heart, kidney or musculoskeletal systems. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-000601404 A
Classmark	CO: CP: LLD
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing

...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.