The inflammatory role of silent urate crystal deposition in intercritical gout.

Our results showed that the levels of some pro-inflammatory cytokines and metabolic proteins are elevated in intercritical gout patients. The levels of certain cytokines were related to the estimated size of the monosodium urate crystal deposition and to the number of cardiovascular risk factors. These cytokine changes may help to explain the increase in cardiovascular events in gout patients.