Gouty arthropathy in the rheumatology department at the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville: About 100 cases

Objective: Describe the characteristics of gouty arthropathy at the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville.
Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study with a retrospective recruitment method, conducted from March 1, 2002 to March 1 , 2012 , i.e. Ten (10) years. It was based on the analysis of the medical files of patients seen in hospitalization in the Rheumatology department of the Brazzaville University Hospital. On the basis of anamnestic, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic and evolutionary data, we searched for elements in favor of gout. The diagnosis of gout was made on the basis of the ACR1977 criteria.
Results: There were 100 cases of gout with a male predominance in 87 cases (87%) and a sex ratio of 6.69. The average age was 59.51 years, with extremes of 37 and 94 years. 56% of our patients were overweight, 33% obese and 11% had a normal BMI. The average duration of progression of gout before consultation was 4.9 years with extremes of 1 and 31 years. The big toe was the most common site of arthritis (62%). Polyarthritis was found in 40% of cases, oligoarthritis 34 % and monoarthritis in 26% of cases. Tophus were found in 17 patients (17%), of whom 5% had ulcerated tophi. Swelling of soft tissues was the most common radiographic anomaly found in 21 cases (21%), followed by narrowing of the joint space 14 cases (14%), erosions and geodes 11 cases (11%).
Conclusion: gouty arthropathy retains its place in the Rheumatology department of Brazzaville University Hospital with a slight increase in frequency. Its epidemiological and clinical profile is almost the same in all parts of the world.