Can ultrasonography make identification of asymptomatic hyperuricemic individuals at risk for developing gouty arthritis more crystal clear?

Hyperuricemia is the most important risk factor for gouty arthritis. The quandary is how to predict which patient with asymptomatic hyperuricemia will develop gouty arthritis. Can ultrasonography help identify hyperuricemic individuals at risk for developing gouty arthritis? In the previous issue of Arthritis Research & Therapy, Pineda and colleagues found ultrasonography changes suggestive of gouty arthritis in 25% of hyperuricemic individuals. These were found exclusively in hyperuricemic individuals but not in normouricemic patients. Ultrasonography may serve as a noninvasive means to diagnose gouty arthritis in hyperuricemic individuals who have yet to develop symptomatic gouty arthritis.