If you have symptoms of gout, you need to test a uric acid blood test , which measures how much uric acid you have in your blood. You may also hear this test called a serum uric acid test, serum urate, or UA.
Can a blood test detect gout?
Your doctor may recommend a blood test to measure the levels of uric acid in your blood . Blood test results can be misleading, though. Some people have high uric acid levels, but never experience gout. And some people have signs and symptoms of gout, but don’t have unusual levels of uric acid in their blood.
What Lab test Shows gout?
The uric acid blood test is used to detect high levels of this compound in the blood in order to help diagnose gout. The test is also used to monitor uric acid levels in people undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer.
Is there a blood test for uric acid levels?
A uric acid test can be done as a blood test or a urine test . During a blood test, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial.
What can be mistaken for gout?
- Pseudogout. It sounds like gout, it looks like gout, but it’s not gout. ...
- Infected joint (septic arthritis) ...
- Bacterial skin infection (cellulitis) ...
- Stress fracture. ...
- Rheumatoid arthritis. ...
- Psoriatic arthritis.
How do you flush uric acid out of your body?
- Limit purine-rich foods. ...
- Eat more low-purine foods. ...
- Avoid drugs that raise uric acid levels. ...
- Maintain a healthy body weight. ...
- Avoid alcohol and sugary drinks. ...
- Drink coffee. ...
- Try a vitamin C supplement. ...
- Eat cherries.
How can you tell the difference between gout and arthritis?
Both cause pain, swelling, and stiffness of the joints that can limit your range of motion. However, the cause differs. RA is an autoimmune disease, which means the body’s own immune system attacks the joints, whereas the pain of gout is due to elevated levels of uric acid in the blood.
Why did I suddenly get gout?
This condition is triggered by high levels of uric acid in your blood . Uric acid is a natural compound in your body. However, if you have too much of it, sharp crystals of uric acid can collect in your joints. This causes a gout flare-up.
What is the best thing to drink if you have gout?
Drink plenty of water, milk and tart cherry juice . Drinking coffee seems to help as well. Be sure to talk with your doctor before making any dietary changes.
Are bananas good for gout?
Bananas are low in purines and high in vitamin C , which make them a good food to eat if you have gout. Changing your diet to include more low-purine foods, like bananas, can lower the amount of uric acid in your blood and reduce your risk of recurrent gout attacks.
Will a CBC show gout?
Additional lab studies that are useful when diagnosing an initial attack include a serum uric acid (sUA) level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), complete blood count (CBC) with differential, and 24-hour urine uric acid measurement. However, these are not necessary for establishing a diagnosis.
What are the symptoms of high uric acid levels?
- severe pain in your joints.
- joint stiffness.
- difficulty moving affected joints.
- redness and swelling.
- misshapen joints.
What is the fastest way to get rid of gout?
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These can quickly relieve the pain and swelling of an acute gout episode. ...
- Corticosteroids: These drugs can be taken by mouth or injected into an inflamed joint to quickly relieve the pain and swelling of an acute attack.
How do you check for gout?
How is gout diagnosed? A medical doctor diagnoses gout by assessing your symptoms and the results of your physical examination, X-rays, and lab tests . Gout can only be diagnosed during a flare when a joint is hot, swollen, and painful and when a lab test finds uric acid crystals in the affected joint.
What is the main cause of gout?
Gout occurs when urate crystals accumulate in your joint , causing the inflammation and intense pain of a gout attack. Urate crystals can form when you have high levels of uric acid in your blood. Your body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines — substances that are found naturally in your body.
Will gout go away if not treated?
Most gout attacks will go away by themselves in several weeks , even without treatment.
