Clinical Aspects of Gouty Patients in Taiwan

Abstract

Before World War Two the incidence of gout had been low in Taiwan and had begun to increase only after the war, probably reflecting the change of the diet due to the economical development and improved standard of living in the country. Since our clinic was established in 1983, we have seen a total number of approximately 4000 patients with gout. The diagnosis of gout was made according to the criteria proposed by the American Rheumatism Association. For every gouty patient visiting our clinic for the first time, serum biochemistry, urine analysis, EKG and chest X-ray were performed. The data from these patients have been submitted to computer analsis.