Chronic Tophaceous Gout in Multiple Spines: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Gout typically affects the 1st metatarsophalangeal joint. Spinal gout is rarely reported. Moreover, involvement of extensive spines is remarkably unusual. We describe a case of a 76-year-old woman with gout involving cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines and sacroiliac joint. She presented with fever, severe back pain, and polyarthralgia and had multiple tophi on both elbows and the left 2nd and 5th proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints. Monosodium urate crystals were confirmed from tophi on the left 5th PIP joint by polarized optical microscopy. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography showed joint space narrowing and bony erosions on cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines, and sacroiliac joint. Fever, back pain, and polyarthralgia improved significantly with oral steroid therapy. Spinal gout can involve multiple spines and other joints and it can be improved by medical treatment only. It should be considered in patients with uncontrolled gout who have acute severe back pain.