hypertension Gout

[bguerrero]

Just was told I have gout from the VA Clinic. Is it possible to link gout secondary to hypertension? I've been having these gout attacks on my right knee and foot 2-4 times a month for the last 3 years. I always thought they were residual pain from previous stroke.

[USMC5811]

Just my personal opinion and two cents...... I would think with a IMO/Nexus letter provided by a physician/specialist linking gout as a secondary (assuming your already service connected) to hypertension and/or the medications your taking for hypertension - you could claim it as a secondary. I believe gout falls under DC 5002

Gout can also appear as a secondary disease or complication of other medical conditions, such as:

• Metabolic syndrome (a combination of obesity and hyperuricemia)
  
• Leukemia
  
• Inborn errors of purine-pyrimidine metabolim
  
• Polycythaemia
  
• Intake of cytotoxics (chemical substances or venom)
  
• Obesity
  
• Diabetes
  
• Hypertension
  
• Renal disorders
  
• Hemolytic anemia
  

Which was found here: http://www.disabilit...-fl-lawyers.cfm

Results from the New York Veterans Affairs Gout Cohort, a database analysis of 575 people with gout in the VA system, found that the average gout patient has four or five comorbidities. In their sample, nearly 90% were found to have hypertension, 60% hyperlipidemia, and 40-50% chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and coronary artery disease (Am. J. Med. 2011;124:155-63).

Also some hypertension medications have been proven to cause a high uric acid level/ gout. http://health.nytime...edications.html

The VA does prescribe the drug Benicart HCT to some hypertension patients. One of the side effects of Benicart is: The most common side effect of BENICAR and BENICAR HCT was dizziness. Other side effects of BENICAR HCT included upper respiratory tract infections, more uric acid in the blood, and nausea. http://www.benicar.com/

There are two types of types of gout; primary and secondary. Primary gout has an unknown cause but in all likely hood is the result of a combination of genetic (others in the family have gout), hormonal, and dietary factors. Secondary gout is caused by medications or medical conditions which increase the blood levels of uric acid.

Edited August 30, 2012 by USMC5811

[Pete53]

USMC5811

Well done excellant research and backup. Thanks for the time and effort.

Pete

[bguerrero]

Thanks for the info, I am service connected to hypertension.

[Capt.]

Hello Bguerro ,

Ok, so the VA SAYS they diagnosed you with gout. I am curious as to where you were stationed and when. Also can you please tell us the other diseases or issues you are experiencing? Have you had a history of infections? I too was initially diagnosed with gout. However after 5 years of taking all kinds of medications turns out I did not have gout. Swelling of knees and joints and feet are also common with several other diseases which can be serious and could also be related to Immune system issues for Lung disease problems, Inflammatory bowel disease/Crones disease and Rheumatoid Artheritis just for a few. I have these listed above as well as Hypertension , so don't want you to have any of these and let them do damage to your health and wait too long for a proper and correct diagnosis. These also will cause you huge swelling and other health problems. I would not settle on the gout issue yet until you look at other possibilities too. I wasted over 5 years until finally some test and different diseases were found. Second opinions and causes for concern could be and should be considered. Blood work can still be very necessary and extensive lab test. The reason I am saying this is because I have been down this road and would take a CAUTIOUS approach for this until you have some other questions answered. The GOUT diagnosis I got was a hipshot one and easy to say and just brush off. Unfortunately I never responded well to the treatments and finally the health issues just got out of hand, until gout was ruled out. Thanks for your service and remember to NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

Edited October 27, 2012 by Capt.Contaminate

[iceturkee]

Hello Bguerro ,

Ok, so the VA SAYS they diagnosed you with gout. I am curious as to where you were stationed and when. Also can you please tell us the other diseases or issues you are experiencing? Have you had a history of infections? I too was initially diagnosed with gout. However after 5 years of taking all kinds of medications turns out I did not have gout. Swelling of knees and joints and feet are also common with several other diseases which can be serious and could also be related to Immune system issues for Lung disease problems, Inflammatory bowel disease/Crones disease and Rheumatoid Artheritis just for a few. I have these listed above as well as Hypertension , so don't want you to have any of these and let them do damage to your health and wait too long for a proper and correct diagnosis. These also will cause you huge swelling and other health problems. I would not settle on the gout issue yet until you look at other possibilities too. I wasted over 5 years until finally some test and different diseases were found. Second opinions and causes for concern could be and should be considered. Blood work can still be very necessary and extensive lab test. The reason I am saying this is because I have been down this road and would take a CAUTIOUS approach for this until you have some other questions answered. The GOUT diagnosis I got was a hipshot one and easy to say and just brush off. Unfortunately I never responded well to the treatments and finally the health issues just got out of hand, until gout was ruled out. Thanks for your service and remember to NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless, C.C.

i have long been diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis. about a year ago, my uric acid started going up and i was told i had gout. i only recently experienced my first gout attack (after going off my inflammatory medicine because of potential kidney failure).

Edited October 27, 2012 by iceturkee

[Capt.]

Hello Ice,,,

I know that I had to really watch my swelling and the infections from the immune problems of the diseases I listed that landed me in the hospitals and the surgeries to fix them . Those problems are very hard to handle and the end results are not only painful but also deadly. I was put on Prednosone to help with the swelling and it is not good for you to begin with but I really did not have much choice. Even though I could develope Gout , it has not happened as of yet. I hope you can stay on top of it too. NEVER GIVE UP. God Bless. C.C.

Edited October 27, 2012 by Capt.Contaminate