GOUT - AN EXPERIENCE FROM ZIMBABWE

Twenty three patients with gout treated and followed up in Zimbabwe ov er a five year period were analysed. Men were afflicted 6,7 times more than women. Their mean age at diagnosis was 44 +/- 8 years and the me an serum uric acid level was 588 +/- 138 mumol/l. The disease was diag nosed late with 30,4 pc of all patients presenting with tophi. Associa ted alcohol excess was universal and the shoulder, a proximal big join t, was also affected in 21,7 pc of all patients. There is a need for s erum uric acid levels for the different localities in Africa to be map ped out and alcohol excess to be curtailed.