Chronic Tophaceous Gout
Rita Toker, Daniel Flusser, Yanku Hertzanu, Shaul Sukenik
Medical Dept., Rheumatology Unit and Radiology Dept., Soroka Medical Center; and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheba
A 51-year-old immigrant from the Caucasus had had chronic tophaceous gout for over 20 years, but had never been treated with anti-hyperuricemic drugs. He had developed large, multiple tophi in many locations, including both ankles and feet. The enormous size and unique location of the tophi caused considerable pain, and difficulty in standing and on walking. Since surgical removal of the tophi was refused by the patient, a course of allopurinol, 300 mg/day, was begun.