Consecutive stages of arthropathy progression in patients with gout.

During observation of 250 patients with gout in the Institute of Rheumatology in Warsaw in the years 1962-1975 several patterns of joint destruction stages in gouty arthropathy have been recognized on the basis of serial roentgenograms. Histological examination of joints and bones suggests with a considerable probability that the progression of arthropathy depends on the extension of sodium urate deposits in articular tissues. Histological documentation of consecutive stages of joint distruction corresponding to the above mentioned patterns of radiological changes is presented.