How effective is prophylactic therapy for gout in people with prior attacks?

Abstract

Colchicine (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, based on 1 double-blind crossover study), allopurinol (SOR: B, based on 2 cohort studies), and weight loss (SOR: B, based on 1 small cohort study) have been shown to reduce symptomatic recurrences of gout, although the data to support their use is limited. Some evidence suggests that despite their serum uric acid-lowering effects, uricosurics (such as probenecid) fail to reduce gout attacks (SOR: B, based on 2 cohort studies). We were unable to find any double-blind, placebo-controlled long-term outcome studies addressing this problem.