skip to main content

Urate Target Achieved — SCE Rheumatology MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

EasyCrystal ArthropathyUrate Target AchievedSCE Rheumatology

A 55-year-old man with gout is taking allopurinol. His serum urate is 310 micromol/L. He has no tophi or chronic gouty arthritis and has not experienced ongoing frequent flares after achieving a serum urate below 360 micromol/L. According to NICE NG219, which statement about his serum urate target is correct?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D — Yes; the standard target below 360 micromol/L applies in this clinical context.

NICE NG219 recommends aiming for a serum urate below 360 micromol/L during treat-to-target urate-lowering therapy. A lower target below 300 micromol/L should be considered for people with tophi or chronic gouty arthritis, or those who continue to have frequent flares despite achieving a level below 360 micromol/L. None of these features is present, so a serum urate of 310 micromol/L achieves the applicable target and D is correct. Targets below 300 or 200 micromol/L do not apply universally, excluding A and B. NICE does specify a numerical target, excluding C, and 420 micromol/L is not the recommended treatment target, excluding E. Importantly, 310 micromol/L is below 360 but not below 300 micromol/L.

Reference: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Gout: diagnosis and management (NG219), recommendations 1.5.6–1.5.7, 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng219/chapter/Recommendations