Is Gout Hereditary?

What do you visualize when you think of the term- gout? It is a condition with swelling and painful joints. Gout is arthritis causing other disorders like abnormal inflammation in your joints. High uric acid in your blood causes the formation of gouts. When the high level of uric acid has caused hyperuricemia, it indicates the uric acid crystal accumulation in your joints. You may have heard about several factors causing gout. But is gout hereditary?

There are several controversies about the genetic factors resulting in the condition like gout. A brief discussion will help you in removing your queries.

Your age, gender, some medications, and several other health issues can result in gout. Basically, diet and genetics are the major factors triggering the condition. Researchers have found that there is a connection between gout and genetics.

They have also claimed that dietary habits do not always cause gout. Patients with gout found that genes are stronger factors (compared to diets) contributing to the development of gout conditions. Contrary to the belief, gout is not a self-inflicted disorder.

Genetic factors and gout

You have heard that lifestyle and diet are the most common causes of gout. Overconsumption of refined sugar, alcohol, and protein can result in the gout problem. However, there is still a mystery surrounding the causes of gout. Interestingly, lots of individuals with this lifestyle do not have gout.

The answer to the query about gout is genetic.

Scientists have tried to solve the conflicts about the relationship of genes with gout. They have researched the genes of several individuals and observed that the gene variant could lower and increase the risk of gout.

SLC2A9 is the major gene variant causing the transportation of fructose. Moreover, it results in the transmission of uric acid. Therefore, it also contributes to the low uric acid excretion for gout patients.

Another important thing is that the gene variant prevents the kidneys from filtering out the uric acid in your bloodstream. Thus, from different scientific studies, researchers have concluded that the gene is an important factor affecting uric acid transport efficiency.

The type of gene you have inherited can make a difference in how much risk of gout you have in the future. Researchers think that the result of their studies will help in a better diagnosis of gout.

According to the traditional view, gout is associated with overindulgent people who consume high-purine foods. However, it is not true in every case.

Hyperuricemia causing gout is inheritable

Gout and hyperuricemia are some common inheritable conditions. Diabetes, obesity, and chronic kidney diseases are ailments that have a multifactorial inheritance. These conditions are somehow related to the disorder like gout. Moreover, social factors, including alcohol and protein intake, affect the level of serum uric acid. Some monogenic disorders can result in problems with uric acid metabolism.

Long-term treatment of gout mainly focuses on the remedy of the hyperuricemia responsible for developing the disease. However, you have to consume a purine-free diet and constantly check the amount of uric acid discharged through your urine. Doctors may prescribe your uricosuric drug to prevent the acute attack of gout.

Complications from uric acid crystals

In more than 15% of gout patients, uric acid crystals build up in kidneys, and this problem results in kidney stones. Due to the complications from the condition, there is a deposit of urate crystals under your skin and some other soft tissues. Then, these tissues result in the development of a nodule, known as the tophus. You can find tophi in your elbows, hands, and feet.

Tophi may not be the actual reason for pain. However, they become inflamed and infected to turn out fluid. Based on the location of tophi, there may be interference with different movements.

Several patients with gout symptoms have other health issues. In most cases, the affected patients have hypertension, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disorder, and obesity. Some of them also have heart disorders, diabetes, and a history of stroke. However, it is not clear whether gout causes a higher risk for these issues.

Other risk factors of arthritis – gout

Although the gene is one of the major reasons for gout, several lifestyle factors play a role in the development of this condition. Unfortunately, these factors will not alleviate your risks but affect the frequency and severity of the gout attack.

Obesity

Heavy body weight will result in a higher level of uric acid. Thus, you must take steps to control your obesity. In most cases, patients with gout have a high volume of abdominal fat. The more body fat you have, the higher the risk of gout symptoms.

Kidney disorder

Patients with kidney problems have a high chance of suffering from gout. While you already have a gout attack, uric acid crystals will pass through the kidneys. Moreover, they will also affect kidneys, and you will have kidney disorders. You may consult your physician for a kidney test. He will identify the cause of your gout and choose the right treatment for it.

Foods contributing to the gout attacks

High-purine foods- Bacon, meat, cold-water fish, brewer’s yeast, and lobster.
Sugary drinks, including soda and sweetened fruit drinks that have a high level of fructose
Alcoholic drinks, especially beer, as it has brewer’s yeast

Medications causing gout

Some medications may increase gout attacks and hyperuricemia risks. These medications include

Low-dose aspirin
Diuretics, also known as the water pills
Cyclosporine- It is an immunosuppressant prescribed to patients having rheumatoid arthritis
Teriparatide- A hormone for treating osteoporosis
Niacin preventing and treating pellagra

Several other medications can also increase your gout risks.

Genetic disorders causing gout

Although gout is a genetic problem, some other hereditary disorders can cause this issue. You can learn something about these diseases.

MCKD

Medullary cystic kidney disease is one of the inherited disorders, causing the development of cysts in your kidneys. Kidney failure for this condition is very common in patients aged 20 to 50 years. Due to this condition, kidneys cannot process uric acid. That is why your bloodstream may have a high amount of uric acid, and this problem results in gout.

Hereditary fructose intolerance

It is another genetic disorder causing gout. While the parents have this condition, there is a high chance of children inheriting this condition. Fructose intolerance can increase the uric acid level, and thus, you will have gout.

Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome

The lack of an enzyme (hypoxanthine-guanine) can cause this syndrome. The disease is related to purine metabolism, and it can result in different complications, including gout arthritis. This syndrome is very common in adolescents.

Conclusion

Now, let us conclude the discussion- Is gout hereditary? Scientific studies have proved the relationship of gout with genes. However, diet, lifestyle, and other factors also affect the chance of having gout. You have to control your uric acid level to avoid this condition.

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Is Gout Hereditary? – Everything You Need to Know