Gouty Arthritis: Pathophysiology, Current Therapeutic Strategies and the Emerging Role of Artificial Intelligence

Authors

  • Ch. Shrivalli ORCiD Department of Pharmacology, Gokaraju Rangaraju College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad 500090, Telangana, India
  • Pratap Veeresh Babu ORCiD Department of Pharmacology, Gokaraju Rangaraju College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad 500090, Telangana, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.68163/ptr.2026.79

Keywords:

Artificial intelligence, gouty arthritis, hyperuricemia, inflammation, monosodium urate crystals, urate-lowering therapy

Abstract

Gouty arthritis is a chronic inflammatory metabolic disorder that is one of the most prevalent forms of inflammatory arthritis worldwide and its burden continues to increase due to various factors, including obesity, dietary changes, sedentary lifestyles and metabolic disorders. Persistent hyperuricemia promotes the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals, which triggers acute gout flares and may progress to chronic tophaceous gout, accompanied by irreversible joint damage and disability. The pathogenesis involves activation of innate immune pathways and the NLRP3 inflammasome, resulting in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The condition can be diagnosed by assessing serum urate levels, clinical manifestations and, when appropriate, MSU crystal deposition, while management includes pharmacological treatment and lifestyle modification. Emerging targeted therapies and artificial intelligence are expected to improve long-term disease monitoring, enhance clinical outcomes and reduce the global burden of gout.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Dalbeth N, Gosling AL, Gaffo A, Abhishek A. Gout. Lancet. 2021;397(10287):1843-1855. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00569-9

Dehlin M, Jacobsson L, Roddy E. Global epidemiology of gout: prevalence, incidence, treatment patterns and risk factors. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2020;16(7):380-390. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-020-0441-1

Yang S, Liu H, Fang XM, Yan F, Zhang Y. Signaling pathways in uric acid homeostasis and gout: from pathogenesis to therapeutic interventions. Int Immunopharmacol. 2024;132:111932. 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111932 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111932

Li C, Wu C, Li F, et al. Targeting neutrophil extracellular traps in gouty arthritis: insights into pathogenesis and therapeutic potential. J Inflamm Res. 2024;17:1735-1763 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S460333

So AK, Martinon F. Inflammation in gout: mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2017;13(11):639-647. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2017.155

Menon SG, Rednam M, Gujarathi R, Maher L. Gout. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2026. Updated April 12, 2026. Accessed November 2, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546606/

Asghari KM, Zahmatyar M, Seyedi F, et al. Gout: global epidemiology, risk factors, comorbidities and complications: a narrative review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024;25(1):1047. doi:10.1186/s12891-024-08180-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-024-08180-9

Timsans J, Palomäki A, Kauppi M. Gout and hyperuricemia: a narrative review of their comorbidities and clinical implications. J Clin Med. 2024;13(24):7616. doi:10.3390/jcm13247616 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13247616

Jeong H, Chang YS, Jeon CH. Gout comorbidities: results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Adv Rheumatol. 2024;64(1):76. doi:10.1186/s42358-024-00413-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42358-024-00413-8

GBD 2021 Gout Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of gout, 1990-2020, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Rheumatol. 2024;6(8):e507-e517. doi:10.1016/s2665-9913(24)00117-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(24)00117-6

Jin S, Wang Y, Yan S, et al. Global burden and trends of gout incidence and prevalence. Chin Med J (Engl). 2025;138(23):3153-3162. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/CM9.0000000000003631

Tang X, Deng D, Wu Q. Global, regional, and national burden of gout among older adults (≥65) from 1990 to 2021 and projections for 2050. Front Public Health. 2025;13:1540190. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2025.1540190 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1540190

Oka P, Chong WM, Ng DX, Aau WK, Tan NC. Epidemiology and risk factors associated with gout control among adult Asians: a real-world retrospective cohort study. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023;10:1253839. doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1253839 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1253839

Ragab G, Elshahaly M, Bardin T. Gout: an old disease in new perspective - a review. J Adv Res. 2017;8(5):495-511. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2017.04.008

Casanova AG, Morales AI, Vicente-Vicente L, López-Hernández FJ. Effect of uric acid reduction on chronic kidney disease. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol. 2024;15:1373258. doi:10.3389/fphar.2024.1373258 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2024.1373258

Johnson RJ, Sanchez Lozada LG, Lanaspa MA, Piani F, Borghi C. Uric acid and chronic kidney disease: still more to do. Kidney Int Rep. 2023;8(2):229-239. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ekir.2022.11.016

Lee TH, Chen JJ, Wu CY, Yang CW, Yang HY. Hyperuricemia and progression of chronic kidney disease: a review from physiology and pathogenesis to the role of urate-lowering therapy. Diagnostics (Basel). 2021;11(9):1674. doi:10.3390/diagnostics11091674 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11091674

Hosseinikhah SM, Barani M, Rahdar A, et al. Nanomaterials for the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory arthritis. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(6):3092. doi:10.3390/ijms22063092 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22063092

Wessig AK, Hoffmeister L, Klingberg A, et al. Natural antibodies and CRP drive anaphylatoxin production by urate crystals. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):4483. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08311-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08311-z

Cronstein BN, Terkeltaub R. The inflammatory process of gout and its treatment. Arthritis Res Ther. 2006;8(suppl 1):S3. doi:10.1186/ar1908 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/ar1908

Li D, Yuan S, Deng Y, et al. The dysregulation of immune cells induced by uric acid: mechanisms of inflammation associated with hyperuricemia and its complications. Front Immunol. 2023;14:1282890. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1282890 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1282890

Ji Z, Huang Y, Liang L, et al. Clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with bone erosion in patients with tophi. Adv Rheumatol. 2024;64(1):18. doi:10.1186/s42358-023-00336-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42358-023-00336-w

Neogi T, Jansen TLTA, Dalbeth N, et al. 2015 gout classification criteria: an American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015;67(10):2557-2568. doi:10.1002/art.39254 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/art.39254

FitzGerald JD, Dalbeth N, Mikuls T, et al. 2020 American College of Rheumatology guideline for the management of gout. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020;72(6):744-760. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.24379

Richette P, Doherty M, Pascual E, et al. 2016 updated EULAR evidence-based recommendations for the management of gout. Ann Rheum Dis. 2017;76(1):29-42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209707

Conley B, Bunzli S, Bullen J, et al. What are the core recommendations for gout management in first line and specialist care? Systematic review of clinical practice guidelines. BMC Rheumatol. 2023;7(1):15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-023-00335-w

Terkeltaub RA. Colchicine update: 2008. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2009;38(6):411-419. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semarthrit.2008.08.006

Khanna D, Fitzgerald JD, Khanna PP, et al. 2012 American College of Rheumatology guidelines for management of gout. Part 1: systematic nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic therapeutic approaches to hyperuricemia. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2012;64(10):1431-1446. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.21772

Schlesinger N, Pillinger MH, Simon LS, Lipsky PE. Interleukin-1β inhibitors for the management of acute gout flares: a systematic literature review. Arthritis Res Ther. 2023;25(1):128. doi:10.1186/s13075-023-03098-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-023-03098-4

Becker MA, Schumacher HR, Wortmann RL, et al. Febuxostat compared with allopurinol in patients with hyperuricemia and gout. N Engl J Med. 2005;353(23):2450-2461. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa050373

Sundy JS, Baraf HSB, Yood RA, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of pegloticase for the treatment of chronic gout in patients refractory to conventional treatment: two randomized controlled trials. JAMA. 2011;306(7):711-720. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2011.1169

Choi HK, Atkinson K, Karlson EW, Willett W, Curhan G. Purine-rich foods, dairy and protein intake, and the risk of gout in men. N Engl J Med. 2004;350(11):1093-1103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa035700

Hosoya T, Sano T, Sasaki T, Fushimi M, Ohashi T. Clinical efficacy and safety of dotinurad, a novel selective urate reabsorption inhibitor, in Japanese hyperuricemic patients with or without gout: randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, confirmatory phase 2 study. Clin Exp Nephrol. 2020;24(suppl 1):53-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-019-01818-2

Tan PK, Liu S, Gunic E, Miner JN. Discovery and characterization of verinurad, a potent and specific inhibitor of URAT1 for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout. Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):665. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-00706-7

Marchetti C, Swartzwelter B, Gamboni F, et al. OLT1177, a β-sulfonyl nitrile compound, safe in humans, inhibits the NLRP3 inflammasome and reverses the metabolic cost of inflammation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018;115(7):E1530-E1539. doi:10.1073/pnas.1716095115 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1716095115

Punzi L, Scagnellato L, Galozzi P, et al. Gout: one year in review 2025. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2025;43(5):799-808. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55563/clinexprheumatol/9sdln5

Ashour RMS, El-Shiekh RA, Sobeh M, Abdelfattah MAO, Abdel-Aziz MM, Okba MM. Eucalyptus torquata L. flowers: a comprehensive study reporting their metabolites profiling and anti-gouty arthritis potential. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):18682. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-45499-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45499-0

Osman NI, Sidik NJ, Awal A, Adam NAM, Rezali NI. In vitro xanthine oxidase (XO) and albumin denaturation inhibition assay of Barringtonia racemosa L. and total phenolic content analysis for potential anti-inflammatory use in gouty arthritis. J Intercult Ethnopharmacol. 2016;5(4):343-349. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5455/jice.20160731025522

Lemos Lima RC, Ferrari FC, de Souza MR, de Sá Pereira BM, de Paula CA, Saúde-Guimarães DA. Effects of extracts of leaves from Sparattosperma leucanthum on hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015;161:194-199. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.11.051

Bouakkaz H, Djeridane A, Mahfoudi R, et al. Xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity and uric acid dissolution power of some plant extracts: in vitro therapeutical approach for gout treatment. Rev Bras Farmacogn. 2024;34(6):1340-1352. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43450-024-00585-w

Trinh PTN, Truc NC, Danh TT, et al. A study on the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of the Artemisia vulgaris L. extract and its fractions. J Ethnopharmacol. 2024;334:118519. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2024.118519 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2024.118519

Downloads

Published

2026-11-05

Issue

Section

Review

How to Cite

1.
Ch S, Babu PV. Gouty Arthritis: Pathophysiology, Current Therapeutic Strategies and the Emerging Role of Artificial Intelligence. Pharmacol. Toxicol. Res. [Internet]. 2026 Nov. 5 [cited 2026 Nov. 7];2:76–84. Available from: https://acadpub.com/ptr/article/view/gouty-arthritis-pathophysiology-treatment-artificial-intelligence-review

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.