SCIENTIFIC BASIS — GLOBAL CONSISTENCY ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT GOUT CAN BE CURED

The Forum is built on the strongest possible scientific foundation: the absolute consensus of the international medical community on the pathophysiological principle that gout is curable in principle.

This principle has been clear for nearly 20 years and has been consistently affirmed across at least 18 international and regional guidelines, representing major organizations worldwide (EULAR, ACR, and rheumatology societies across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and North America).

Below is a summary table of the key statements:

No. Year Organization / Society Region / Country Key statement affirming “curable in principle”
1 2006 EULAR Europe If existing urate crystals are dissolved and new crystals stop forming, the patient is essentially “cured.”
2 2013 SIR Italy Gout is a potentially curable disease.
3 2013 SER Spain The treatment goal is “cure,” based on dissolving MSU crystals.
4 2014 3e Initiative 14 countries The treatment goal moves toward cure when tophi disappear.
5 2015 Australian & New Zealand Rheumatology Association Australia & New Zealand Confirms gout is a condition with curative potential.
6 2016 University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) Switzerland Gout is a very easily curable disease.
7 2016 EULAR (Update) Europe Reaffirms that gout is curable.
8 2016 DGRh Germany In principle, gout is curable.
9 2017 BSR United Kingdom Establishes a “clinical cure” state when the sUA target is achieved and tophi have resolved.
10 2017 DGRh (S2e) Germany Affirms the goal of curing the disease.
11 2017 Treat-to-Target Task Force (IGTF) International Because gout is curable, the central principle is maintaining target urate.
12 2019 SIR (Update) Italy Gout is a potentially curable disease.
13 2020 ACR United States Gout is considered a “curable disease.”
14 2020 SFR France Gout is the easiest rheumatic condition to cure.
15 2020 SMR Morocco Gout is a curable condition.
16 2020 SER (Update) Spain The clinical goal of cure can be achieved if the uric acid target is reached.
17 2021 MaHTAS Malaysia Crystal dissolution suggests gout is potentially “curable.”
18 2022 ÖGR Austria In principle, gout can be treated successfully and even cured.

Explanation and conclusion from this evidence 

The absolute consistency at the level of scientific principle is a non-controversial common ground: the principle of “curable in principle” has been clear for nearly 20 years. This is the solid foundation for the Forum to call for the next step: formally codifying the goal of curing gout in updated guidelines.

However, the paradox is that many experts and frontline clinicians do not fully recognize this principle (because it is often just a short sentence within long guideline documents), which contributes to persistent real-world implementation difficulties.

If colleagues know of additional guidelines that affirm this principle, please share them so we can add them to the list.