Case study:
RA is a 72-year-old man who has had gout for many years. He also has chronic heart failure and episodic asthma. RA is prescribed allopurinol and prednisolone to manage his gout. He speaks to his next-door neighbour who has gout, and she recommends that he should try diclofenac, as she has found this medicine to be helpful. When visiting his GP, RA asks if diclofenac would be useful for managing his gout.
Questions:
Q1. Briefly explain the pathophysiology of gout.
Q2. Explain the mechanism of action of allopurinol in managing gout. (Remember that you must understand the mechanism before you can explain it in your own words in a way that makes sense)
Q3. Briefly discuss any potential benefits of prednisolone in managing gout beyond its anti-inflammatory effects.
Q4. How would you advise RA about whether he should take diclofenac to manage his gout? Provide a rationale for your answer.
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References
Bullock, S 2017, Fundamentals of Pharmacology, 8th edn, Pearson Australia. ISBN: 9781442563100