title: Asymptomatic hyperuricemia: impact of ultrasonography.
abstract: Thirty-five patients (23 males) with asymptomatic hyperuricemia for at least two years underwent two-dimensional ultrasonography of knees and ankles. Urate deposits (tophi) in tendons, synovium, and other soft tissues were detected in 12 patients (34%). Increased vascularity (inflammation) was evident in 8 of these patients (23%). Tophi were more frequently found in knees than in ankles and were especially prevalent in the distal patellar tendon. The presence of tophi was unrelated to the known duration of hyperuricemia (mean, 5 years). Ultrasonography allows detection of tophi and inflammation in a third and in a fourth, respectively, of asymptomatic hyperuricemic patients.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Internal Medicine, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. jgarciapuig@terre.es
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Miguel
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: A López
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006073:Gout / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography