Gout is still being researched today. New procedures are being developed, and treatment for all forms of arthritis is constantly evolving.

Gout is one of the oldest known diseases in history. In fact, this form of arthritis, which causes severe joint pain, was recognized and named well before arthritis itself. The first clear reference to gout was made in 2640 B.C. by the Egyptians. Still, it wasn't until the fifth century that gout was given a name. The Greek scientist Hippocrates, known as the father of medicine for his many scientific contributions, called gout the "unwalkable disease," for the severe foot pain symptoms often experienced in the big toe. The Greek term for gout was "Podagra," which simply translates to foot pain. Although gout can occur in several joints, its common development in the big toe seems to have made a strong impression on Hippocrates.

The word "gout" itself came from the Latin word "gutta," which means "to drop." Romans believed that gout was caused when a body had too much of one of the four humors. The four humors were, according to early medical theories, four liquids in the human body (blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile) that had to be in balance for good health. According to this early theory, if you had too much of any one of these humors, the excess liquid would drop into joints, causing them to swell painfully. Although we now know that this is not what causes inflammation, the name stuck around.

Gout has been referred to for centuries as "the disease of kings." Modern patients managing arthritis pain may not feel much like royalty when they're experiencing an attack, but the name is still appropriate. It all comes down to what we eat now compared with what people ate back then. Historically speaking, most people couldn't afford the foods that contributed to the development of gout. Most of the people who developed gout were wealthy enough to afford purine-rich foods such as red meat or shellfish.

Gout today

Modern medical research has led to a dramatic leap in how we understand gout and other conditions caused by inflammation. In 1988, Gertrude Elion and George Hitchings received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their studies of metabolic functions of different types of cells. Elion and Hitchings established that there were clear differences in how human cells, cancer cells, viruses, bacteria, and protozoa react to different chemicals. This research lead them to develop new medicines and practices that were used to treat gout and other health conditions such as leukemia, hypertension, and ulcers.

Gout is still being researched today. New procedures are being developed, and treatment for all forms of arthritis is constantly evolving.

For more on gout:

Know Your Gout Risk Factors
Foods to Avoid If You Have Gout
Gout Linked to Reduced Alzheimer's Disease Risk