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Rheumatology News & Views from APLAR Region

Gout is a common disease in Taiwan. Taiwanese researchers have contributed to clinical findings in the field of gout, including the association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B5801 and allopurinol-induced Steven–Johnson syndrome and of hyperuricemia and risk of cardiovascular disease. However, public awareness of this disease is still inadequate and tophaceous gout is not uncommon in clinical practice. The Taiwan Rheumatology Association set up treatment guidelines on gout in December 2013. The National Health Insurance regulation previously restricted febuxostat use to patients who had inadequate response or developed adverse effect to allopurinol or benzbromarone. The use of febuxostat has now extended to patients with serum creatinine higher than 1.5 mg/dL since March 2014. These treatment guidelines and new medication regulations hopefully offer more guidance and treatment options regarding safe and effective gout therapy to primary care physicians in the management of gout in Taiwan.