How was the term gout derived?
Gout is a disease in which tissue deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals occurs as a result of hyperuricemia, resulting in one or more of the following manifestations:
- • Gouty arthritis.
- • Tophi (aggregated deposits of MSU occurring in articular, osseous, cartilaginous, or soft tissue areas).
- • Gouty nephropathy.
- • Uric acid nephrolithiasis.
The term gout is derived from the Latin word gutta, which translates as “a drop”. In the 13th century, it was thought that gout resulted from a drop of evil humor affecting a vulnerable joint. This explains why a majority of early gout therapies were aimed at removing excess humor (e.g., the use of bloodletting and cupping).
