title: Preventing attacks of acute gout when introducing urate-lowering therapy: a systematic literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To systematically review the evidence on treatment available to prevent an acute attack of gout when initiating a urate-lowering therapy (ULT) and for how long this treatment should be continued. To also evaluate the evidence on the optimal time to start a ULT after an acute attack of gout.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review as part of the 3e (Evidence, Expertise, Exchange) Initiative on Diagnosis and Management of Gout was performed using Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (from 1950 to October 2011), and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2010/2011 meeting abstracts. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts for selection criteria. Included articles were reviewed in detail, and a risk of bias assessment (using the Cochrane tool) was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The search identified 8168 articles and 197 abstracts, from which 4 randomized controlled trials were included in the review. Two of these studies compared placebo with colchicine, 1 compared differing durations of colchicine, and 1 compared colchicine with canakinumab.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two randomized controlled trials have shown that colchicine prophylaxis for at least 6 months, when starting a ULT, reduces the risk of acute attacks. Canakinumab, although not currently licensed for gout, has been shown to provide prophylaxis superior to colchicine, when starting a ULT. There is no evidence on the optimum time to start a ULT after an acute gout attack.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK; Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Division of Rheumatology and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto; and Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network; Institute for Work and Health, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.D.M. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Professor of Rheumatology, Rheumatology Department, Leiden University Medical Center; C.J. Edwards, MBBS, MD, FRCP, Department of Rheumatology and NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; R. Seth, BM, MRCP, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; A.S.R. Kydd, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia; L. Falzon, PGDipInf, Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center; C. Bombardier, MD, FRCPC, Professor, Division of Rheumatology and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto; and Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network; Institute for Work and Health, Mount Sinai Hospital. rs1299@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: Rakhi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK; Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Division of Rheumatology and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto; and Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network; Institute for Work and Health, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.D.M. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Professor of Rheumatology, Rheumatology Department, Leiden University Medical Center; C.J. Edwards, MBBS, MD, FRCP, Department of Rheumatology and NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; R. Seth, BM, MRCP, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; A.S.R. Kydd, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia; L. Falzon, PGDipInf, Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center; C. Bombardier, MD, FRCPC, Professor, Division of Rheumatology and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto; and Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network; Institute for Work and Health, Mount Sinai Hospital.
authors.forename: Alison S R
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kydd
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK; Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Division of Rheumatology and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto; and Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network; Institute for Work and Health, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.D.M. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Professor of Rheumatology, Rheumatology Department, Leiden University Medical Center; C.J. Edwards, MBBS, MD, FRCP, Department of Rheumatology and NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; R. Seth, BM, MRCP, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; A.S.R. Kydd, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia; L. Falzon, PGDipInf, Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center; C. Bombardier, MD, FRCPC, Professor, Division of Rheumatology and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto; and Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network; Institute for Work and Health, Mount Sinai Hospital.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Falzon
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK; Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Division of Rheumatology and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto; and Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network; Institute for Work and Health, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.D.M. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Professor of Rheumatology, Rheumatology Department, Leiden University Medical Center; C.J. Edwards, MBBS, MD, FRCP, Department of Rheumatology and NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; R. Seth, BM, MRCP, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; A.S.R. Kydd, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia; L. Falzon, PGDipInf, Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center; C. Bombardier, MD, FRCPC, Professor, Division of Rheumatology and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto; and Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network; Institute for Work and Health, Mount Sinai Hospital.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bombardier
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK; Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Division of Rheumatology and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto; and Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network; Institute for Work and Health, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.D.M. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Professor of Rheumatology, Rheumatology Department, Leiden University Medical Center; C.J. Edwards, MBBS, MD, FRCP, Department of Rheumatology and NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; R. Seth, BM, MRCP, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; A.S.R. Kydd, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia; L. Falzon, PGDipInf, Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center; C. Bombardier, MD, FRCPC, Professor, Division of Rheumatology and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto; and Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network; Institute for Work and Health, Mount Sinai Hospital.
authors.forename: Désirée M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: van der Heijde
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK; Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Division of Rheumatology and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto; and Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network; Institute for Work and Health, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.D.M. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Professor of Rheumatology, Rheumatology Department, Leiden University Medical Center; C.J. Edwards, MBBS, MD, FRCP, Department of Rheumatology and NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; R. Seth, BM, MRCP, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust; A.S.R. Kydd, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia; L. Falzon, PGDipInf, Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Medical Center; C. Bombardier, MD, FRCPC, Professor, Division of Rheumatology and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto; and Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network; Institute for Work and Health, Mount Sinai Hospital.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Edwards
mesh_terms: D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006073:Gout / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014528:Uricosuric Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014528:Uricosuric Agents
keywords: COLCHICINE; FLARE PROPHYLAXIS; GOUT; URATE-LOWERING THERAPY