Research Progress on the Pathogenesis and Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Treatment of Gout

Abstract

Gout is a common inflammatory metabolic rheumatic disease caused by persistent hyperuricemia and monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition in joints and soft tissues. With the continuous update of global dietary structure and lifestyle, the incidence of gout has shown a sustained upward trend and tends to occur at younger age, bringing heavy economic and social burdens to patients and society. Modern Western medicine has formed a mature diagnostic and treatment system for gout, focusing on rapid anti-inflammatory analgesia and long-term urate-lowering therapy, but there are obvious limitations such as single target of action, adverse drug reactions, and easy recurrence after drug withdrawal. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages in the treatment of gout based on syndrome differentiation and treatment, multi-target intervention, and holistic regulation, which can effectively improve clinical symptoms, reduce serum uric acid level, reduce recurrence rate, and improve patients’ quality of life. Based on the latest domestic and foreign research literature in recent five years, this review systematically summarizes the modern pathogenesis of gout, the latest progress of Western medicine treatment, the TCM etiology and pathogenesis characteristics, as well as the clinical and experimental research status of single Chinese medicine, compound prescriptions, acupuncture and comprehensive TCM intervention. Meanwhile, it analyzes the existing problems in current research and puts forward future research directions, aiming to provide theoretical reference and novel perspectives for standardized clinical treatment and translational basic research of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine for gout.