BSR Guideline for the Management of Gout

Prof Jaap van Laar talks to Dr Ed Roddy, Keele University, UK, about the recently published update of the BSR guideline for the management of gout. Dr Roddy explains the need for this update due to the development of new drugs to treat gout as well as epidemiological studies showing an increase of incidence and prevalence but a lack of improvement in the treatment of gout. The guideline highlights the importance of increasing both GP and patient education. It also suggests a paradigm shift in the treatment to using urate lowering drugs in all patients and not waiting until a chronic condition develops.