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Gout flare prophylaxis — GPhC CRA MCQ

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ModerateMusculoskeletal TherapeuticsGout flare prophylaxisGPhC CRA

A 50-year-old man starting allopurinol after recurrent gout attacks asks why colchicine has been prescribed for the first few months. His urate is 540 micromol/L and eGFR is 68 mL/min/1.73 m². What would you advise the patient?

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Correct answer: EColchicine helps prevent gout flares when urate-lowering therapy is initiated

Starting urate-lowering therapy can precipitate gout flares as urate stores shift. Low-dose colchicine is commonly used as flare prophylaxis during initiation where suitable. Serum urate still needs monitoring and allopurinol titration. The patient should also be counselled about diarrhoea and toxicity risk, especially if renal function changes.

Reference: BNF; NICE CKS