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Kuo C-F, Grainge MJ et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2014; DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204463

Gout rarely involves the TMJ, with less than a dozen citations in the English literature (J Am Dent Assoc 2010; 141: 979–985). Notwithstanding this, the findings from this study may suggest that this oral/facial manifestation of gout could be on the increase? These investigators used the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD – anonymised clinical data from 12 million individuals in the UK) to determine the prevalence (number of cases of disease at a specific time) and incidence (loosely expressed as the number of new cases over a specific time) of gout in the UK during the past 16 years. It is reported that gout has increased since 2005 with a higher prevalence and incidence in Wales and the North East of England. The management of gout is poor with both under- and inappropriate prescribing of ureate-lowering treatment/therapy. Historically, gout was always associated with an intemperate lifestyle, although 'the converse may now be true'.