Subcutaneous lymphedema linked to extra-articular gout deposits
Subcutaneous lymphedema is frequently associated with extra-articular monosodium urate (MSU) deposits in patients with gout, particularly in cases affecting the feet, according to a study.
Researchers evaluated 79 patients with acute gout using ultrasound and dual-energy computed tomography (DECT). Subcutaneous lymphedema was observed in 58.2% of patients and was significantly associated with extra-articular MSU deposits (P < 0.001). Nearly all patients (97.8%) with lymphedema exhibited extra-articular MSU deposits, although no cases of lymphedema were linked to exclusively intra-articular deposits.
The study also assessed 2 DECT protocols with different minimum attenuation thresholds. The DECT 120 protocol proved significantly more sensitive in detecting peripheral MSU deposits (81%) compared to the DECT 150 protocol (34.2%, P < 0.001).
Reference
Held J, Strolz C, Reijnierse M, et al. Diagnostic Impact of Subcutaneous Edema in Gouty Feet Detected by Dual-Energy Computed Tomography and Ultrasound. J Clin Med. 2024;13(24):7620. doi: 10.3390/jcm13247620. PMID: 39768543; PMCID: PMC11676054.