FOUNDING OPEN LETTER (FOUNDING LETTER)

To: clinical researchers; guideline development and update groups of EULAR, ACR, and national/regional societies; outcome standardization organizations (OMERACT, G-CAN); and the international medical community,.

For nearly two decades, the global medical community has reached a robust consensus on the foundational pathophysiological principle: gout is curable in principle. At least 18 international guidelines—from EULAR 2006 to the present—have affirmed consistently that when serum uric acid is lowered below the saturation threshold and maintained long enough, new urate crystal formation stops and existing urate crystals gradually dissolve. When the crystal entity no longer exists, the patient is essentially cured. 

However, we are facing a major paradox: guidelines have been consistent on the principle of “curable in principle,” yet they have not formally codified “the goal of curing gout”—defined as a verified crystal-free state at the time of assessment (not a permanent cure), with lifelong maintenance of ULT—as the central treatment destination. 

This paradox is the root bottleneck, triggering a serious domino effect in clinical practice—creating daily difficulties for clinicians and pushing patients with severe complicated gout into a true deadlock. 

The International Medical Forum for Making the Goal of Curing Gout a Reality is initiated by Vien Gut to open an open, vigorous, and structured scientific debate, with a central mission: 

To call on experts participating in guideline development and updates (EULAR, ACR, national/regional societies) to formally codify “the goal of curing gout” as the central treatment destination in upcoming guideline updates. 

This naming step belongs to the level of theory and system direction-setting—based on a principle that has been consensus for 20 years—in order to unblock the foundational translation chain, stimulate outcome standardization, proof research, and feasible practice models, and bring the greatest benefit to the most severe and complex gout patients. 

We do not aim to re-debate a principle that is already clear. Instead, we invite colleagues—especially guideline experts—to join in making this goal real in practice. 

What do you think? Please share your viewpoint—supporting or rebutting. Every perspective is valuable to drive change. 

Sincerely,

Nguyễn Đình Quang
Independent Medical Researcher
President, Vien Gut

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