Gout is best described as which of the following?

• A. Degenerative joint disease
• B. Inflammatory disease of joints and tendons, most commonly affecting the great toe
• C. Autoimmune disease
• D. Neuropathic pain syndrome

Answer: (B)

Gout is a crystal-induced inflammatory arthritis. It results from monosodium urate crystals depositing in joints, which triggers a strong inflammatory response that causes sudden, severe pain, redness, and swelling. The great toe is classically affected, though other joints can be involved. This differentiates gout from degenerative joint disease, which is due to wear-and-tear and tends to have more chronic, gradual pain and joint changes; autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, which involve autoantibodies and a different joint-pain pattern; and neuropathic pain syndromes, where pain stems from nerve injury rather than crystal-related inflammation.