Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of drinking alcohol on tophi and its surrounding inflammation in the joints by ultrasound. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 356 gout patients and collected their information of drinking history, clinical biochemical parameters and ultrasound results. Multiple regression analyses including several variables and potential confounders were then performed. Results: Relative to no drinking, more alcohol intake (>200 g/week), longer drinking time (>20 years) and higher frequency of drinking (>2 times/week) had significant positive effects on the size of tophus after controlling for potential confounders (P=0.024; P=0.002; P=0.040). Further subgroup analysis of different ages illustrated that more alcohol consumption had positive effects on the size of tophi only in the younger gout patients (≤50 years old), rather than in older ones (>50 years old). However, alcohol consumption had no significant association with the formation and number of tophus, and the associations between type of drinking and tophi was not observed in the current study. Moreover, except for tophi, there was no relationship between alcohol consumption and other ultrasound signs including double-contour sign (DCS), bone erosion, effusion and synovial hypertrophy.Conclusion: Alcohol consumption is closely associated with ultrasound-detected tophi in gout patients. More alcohol intake, longer drinking time and higher frequency of drinking are crucial factors that positively affect the size of tophus, especially in younger gout patients. However, significant association between type of alcohol and tophi was not observed in the current study.
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