Gout study offers genetic insight into 'disease of kings'
December 23, 2012 in Genetics
Scientists have shed light on why some people are more
susceptible to gout than others. A study has identified 18 new genetic
variations that increase levels of uric acid in the blood, which is the main
cause of the disease. High levels of uric acid form small crystals in joints
and tissues, causing pain and swelling – the main symptoms of the condition
once known as the 'disease of kings'.
Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis,
affecting up to two per cent of the world's population. Understanding how these
common genetic variants increase uric acid levels in the blood may lead to
improvements in the treatment and prevention of the disease. It could also help
research into urate-lowering drugs. The international team of researchers,
including scientists from the University
of Edinburgh and Queen Mary, University of London, say gout is becoming more common
in the developed world. They attribute its rise in part to increasing levels of
obesity and an aging population. This painful joint inflammation affects at
least one in seventy adults in the UK with approximately 900,000
people suffering at least one attack of gout in their lifetime. The work,
published in Nature Genetics, was carried out by analysing the genetic data of
more than 140,000 people, from more than 70 individual studies from Europe, the
U.S., Japan and Australia and represents the
largest study worldwide on this topic. Dr Veronique Vitart, from the Medical
Research Council Human Genetics Unit at the University of Edinburgh,
and one of the lead authors of the study said: "Abnormal levels of uric
acid have been associated with various common diseases and conditions, but
causal relationships are not always clear. Gaining insight into the genetic
components of uric acid levels offers a very useful tool to tackle these issues
and to further our understanding of these conditions." Professor Mark
Caulfield, from the William Harvey Research Institute at Queen Mary, and a lead
author said: "Existing therapies to avoid attacks of gout sometimes cause
side effects. Our findings identify new potential mechanisms for gout and offer
opportunities for new therapies which may improve prevention of this debilitating
condition in the future. Journal reference: Nature Genetics Provided by University of Edinburgh
Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-gout-genetic-insight-disease-kings.html#jCp
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