Tophus

Tophus is a deposition of subcutaneous deposition of uric acid seen in advanced gout.

Tophus achilles tendon

Symptoms

Chronic tophi gout cause joint deformity and limitation of motion in affected joints may occur if several attacks of gout occur each year.

Gouty tophus

Locations

Uric acid deposits called tophi develop in cartilage tissue, tendons, and soft tissues. Deposits also can occur in the kidneys, leading to chronic renal failure.

Etiology

A tophus (Latin: "stone", plural tophi) is a deposit of monosodium urate crystals, in people with longstanding high levels of uric acid in the blood, a condition known as hyperuricemia.

Gouty tophi on the elbow

Clinical pearl

Tophi are pathognomonic for the disease gout.

Pathophysiology

Without treatment, tophi may develop on average about ten years after the onset of gout, although their first appearance can range from three to forty-two years.

Treatment

• When uric acid levels and gout symptoms are usually controlled with standard gout medicines such as colchicine or
• Medications that decrease the production of uric acid (e.g., allopurinol, febuxostat)
• Other medicines that increase uric acid elimination from the body through the kidneys such as probenecid) can also be used

Tophus Resources
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