Gouty sacroiliitis: A case report of an often-overlooked cause of inflammatory back pain

Int J Rheum Dis. 2023 Jan;26(1):151-153. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.14438. Epub 2022 Sep 22.

Abstract

Gout is a chronic disease caused by monosodium urate crystal deposition, typically affecting the big toe, midfoot, and ankle. As it rarely involves the sacroiliac joints, it could be easily misdiagnosed as spondylarthritis. Here, we report the case of a patient with a long history of gout with recurrent low back pain. Computed tomography of the sacroiliac joint suggested sacroiliac arthritis, puncture biopsy indicated gout granuloma, and polarized light microscopy confirmed monosodium urate crystal deposits.

Keywords: Gouty sacroiliitis; inflammatory-type back pain; urate crystals.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Arthritis, Gouty* / diagnosis
  • Arthritis, Gouty* / diagnostic imaging
  • Back Pain / diagnosis
  • Back Pain / etiology
  • Gout* / diagnosis
  • Gout* / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Sacroiliac Joint / diagnostic imaging
  • Sacroiliac Joint / pathology
  • Sacroiliitis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Sacroiliitis* / drug therapy
  • Uric Acid

Substances

  • Uric Acid