Gout is a disorder that is related to excess production and deposition of uric acid crystals. Uric acid is the byproduct of purine nucleotide catabolism. The root cause of gout is hyperuricemia and it is characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis. The formation of urate crystals leads to the formation of tophaceous deposits (sandy, gritty, nodular masses of urate crystals), particularly in the joints which precipitates the episodes of gouty arthritis. Gouty arthritis is the most painful manifestation of gout and is caused when urate crystals interact with neutrophils triggering an inflammatory response.