Hospital joins international gout study

Rheumatologist Dr Douglas White and laboratory senior scientist Sean Munroe are leading the hospital’s involvement, which they hope will see better diagnosis and treatment of gout. The painful joint disease affects 1-2 per cent of the population.

Gout is usually characterised by attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis – a red, tender, hot, swollen joint, often in the big toe.

It is caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. The uric acid crystallises, and the crystals deposit in joints, tendons, and surrounding tissues.

Mr Munroe this week said the Waikato Hospital laboratory and staff had passed a qualifying test – confirming they were up to international standard – and he expected they would start collecting samples for the study early next year.

“This really is a big study and to be involved in worldwide collaboration is quite exciting,” said Mr Munroe, who is involved in a quality control programme for other New Zealand labs. Teams from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are also involved.

He has worked in the hospital lab – a sea of gowned-up technicians, testing equipment and screens – for 10 years and has a special interest in microbiology.