Phase I
In the period of hyperuricemia without any symptoms, gout has not occurred, and the blood uric acid concentration exceeds the normal value, which has entered the incubation period of gout. Although not all patients with hyperuricemia will develop gout, they should not be lucky, and persistent hyperuricemia will greatly increase the incidence of gout.
Phase II
Acute gout attack. Patients with gout arthritis in this period suddenly attack, swelling and pain duration, as little as three or five days, more than a few weeks, generally incurable and healed, into the intermittent period of gout.
Phase III
Intermittent period of gout. After an acute gout attack, after swelling and pain relief, no symptoms will appear for a period of time, which is called the intermittent period of gout. In the intermittent period of gout, the patient is not different from normal people on the surface, in fact, urate crystals still continue to behave in the body, over time, the joints will become swollen and stiff, difficult to bend or straighten, at this time there will generally be the formation of tophi under the skin, there is no obvious kidney lesions, such as uric acid kidney disease and the formation of kidney stones, kidney function is normal.
Stage IV
Chronic arthritis and tophi phase. The appearance of tophi is a warning sign that the disease is getting worse. Tophi is due to the fact that excess urate crystals are deposited in the blood in the joint or surrounding tissues, gradually enlarging, forming yellow-white hard lumps protruding from the surface of the skin. As the condition worsens, tophi will be more and more, the volume will be larger and larger, and the damage to the joints will become more and more serious, at this time, some patients will also have kidney and urinary system diseases.
Stage 5
Gouty nephropathy. The joint deformities of gout patients during this period have been particularly serious, and tophi has appeared in many parts of the body, which is large in size and easy to break, and white urate crystals flow out. Gouty nephropathy and kidney stones develop, the kidneys gradually fail, and in severe cases, uremia occurs and is irreversible. At this time, it has seriously affected the quality of life of patients and brought great pain to the body and mind.
In summary, the treatment of gout can not be ignored, the longer the course of the disease, the more serious the symptoms, tophi will be more and more, larger and larger. Therefore, it is particularly critical to seize the best time for treatment, reduce the difficulty of treatment and shorten the cycle of treatment.