Not all tophus (nodules) can be dissolved. Only when the formation time is short, the urate deposited in it can freely exchange with the components in the blood and is still in the soluble period.
Gout nodules generally refer to the deposition of subcutaneous uric acid crystals. Tout stones also include renal uric acid stones. The two statements are often interused and both refer to the deposition of uric acid crystals.
However, once gout nodules exist for a long time and fibrosis and calcification occur inside, there is no way to dissolve them through drugs and they can only be treated by surgery, but not all gout nodules are suitable for surgery.
At the beginning of gout, only one joint is often involved, and this [unlucky] joint is usually the big hallux joint of the foot.
Over time, the pain will gradually spread to fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, knees and other joints of the whole body, and then the surrounding soft tissue and bone will also be damaged to varying degrees, causing dysfunction. Uric acid crystals continue to deposit, slowly forming stone-like [gout nodules].
The appearance of gout nodules is a warning signal for the disease to enter a serious state.
Why does gout nodule appear?
The appearance of gout nodules means that the course of gout has entered the third stage and the disease has become more and more serious. If gout continues to develop, gout will begin to [capture] the internal organs of the human body.
It is generally believed that if the serum uric acid value continues to exceed 535 mol/L, more than half of the patients will suffer from gout nodules.
From hyperuricemia to gout nodules, it takes an average of ten years.
The higher the concentration of serum uric acid and the longer the duration, the higher the probability of gout nodules.
Where is gout nodule easy to form?
The favorite place of residence for gout nodules is the tissues in and around the joints of the human body. Such as articular cartilage, synovium, bone, tendon, ligament, joint capsule, etc. The distal facet joint of human limbs is the most [favored] place for gout nodules, such as metatarsophalangeal joint (root of toe), ankle joint, dorsum of foot, finger joint, metacarpophalangeal joint, wrist joint and dorsum of hand, etc.
Cartilage on human auricle is also the [preferred residence] for gout nodules.
Larger joint parts of limbs, such as knee joint and elbow joint, can be regarded as [livable environment] for gout nodules.
However, gout nodules are relatively rare in trunk parts such as chest, abdomen, back, waist, buttocks, shoulders and upper arms and thighs of limbs.
As for the internal organs of the human body, traces of gout nodules can also be found. The most commonly involved system is the urinary system (such as kidney, ureter and bladder). After all, this is the outlet of uric acid and is prone to the deposition of urate. In addition, gallbladder is also a common gout nodule.
Can gout nodules be eliminated?
In fact, gout nodules may appear in almost all tissues of the human body except that the central nervous system is protected by the blood-brain barrier and the uric acid concentration in the environment is much lower than that in other parts.
These gout nodules vary in size, as small as sesame seeds and as large as eggs. If gout patients find small gout nodules in the early stage, they can be actively treated, so that the serum uric acid concentration is within the normal range for a long time, and gout nodules are expected to dissipate.
This is because the formation time of gout nodules is still short and has not been [cultivated] into [immortalized body]. Uric acid salt deposited in gout nodules can be freely exchanged with components in blood, and gout nodules are still in a soluble period.
Once gout nodules increase and exist for a long time, fibrosis and calcification may occur inside, and there is no hope of dissolution, which can only be treated by surgery.
Gout nodules and what hazards?
When gout nodules appear on gout patients, they not only affect their beauty, but also bring various other troubles.
When gout nodules gradually increase, the pressure inside the tissue also increases, the skin of the affected parts is tight and thinner, the skin integrity is damaged, and the ability to resist traction decreases.
Once the gout nodule is rubbed, pressed, cold, heated or traumatized, it is more likely to break and flow out toothpaste-like white uric acid crystals.
These damaged skin parts have poor regeneration ability and are difficult to heal on their own. Fistula will form when damaged for a long time. Inflammatory granuloma will form when tissues around fistula are stimulated by uric acid crystals for a long time.
Generally speaking, skin ulceration and fistula at gout nodules are not easy to suffer from secondary bacterial infection, but there is always one thousand things. If secondary bacterial infection does not heal for a long time, chronic suppurative lesions may form.
Responsible Editor: Huang Lijia