Gout study offers genetic insight into 'disease of kings'
Sunday, December 23, 2012 - 16:30
in Biology & Nature
Scientists have shed light on why some people are more susceptible to gout than others. A study has identified 18 new genetic variations that increase levels of uric acid in the blood, which is the main cause of the disease. High levels of uric acid form small crystals in joints and tissues, causing pain and swelling -- the main symptoms of the condition once known as the 'disease of kings'.