Advances and unmet needs in gout

Gout is a common disorder characterized by chronic hyperuricemia and recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis, affecting approximately 1–3% of the population. Recently, gout has received increased attention partly owing to the development of new therapies (including the first approved gout treatment in more than 40 years) and an improved understanding of its pathophysiology. Recent research has also shed important insight into its epidemiology, including several novel environmental and genetic risk factors for the development of hyperuricemia and gout. Despite being described by the Egyptians in 2640 BC [1], and recognizing recent substantive gains in research, gout continues to be characterized by suboptimal treatment resulting in high morbidity and unacceptable societal costs. This article discusses the current status of gout, highlighting the many ‘unmet needs’ that continue to beleaguer the care of these patients.