Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Rheumatology >
  • Our Services >
  • Gout
Rheumatology
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
Gout
Lupus
Myositis
Reproductive Health
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Scleroderma
Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases
Sjögren’s Disease
Vasculitis
Telemedicine
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations
Rheumatology
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Our Services
Gout
Lupus
Myositis
Reproductive Health
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Scleroderma
Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases
Sjögren’s Disease
Vasculitis
Telemedicine
For Professionals & Students
Our Locations

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Gout Services at UPMC

Gout is one of the most common types of inflammatory arthritis. It's caused by a buildup of uric acid in the blood. This buildup causes uric acid crystals to form around joints — most commonly, your big toe, knee, or ankle. These crystals cause severe pain, swelling, warmth, and redness in the affected joints.

Although it affects 4% to 5% of adults in the United States, gout often goes undiagnosed or undertreated.

UPMC is staffed by fellowship-trained experts at the Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology who provide comprehensive care for people with gout. You'll receive expert diagnosis and treatment designed to manage your symptoms when they occur and reduce the risk of future flare-ups.


Find a Provider


Find a Location

What are Gout Services at UPMC?

Our rheumatology providers offer advanced, specialized, and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for people with gout.

Who’s Eligible for Gout Services?

If you have symptoms of gout or have already been diagnosed with gout, you may be eligible for specialized care.

What Gout Services Do We Offer?

Our experts offer the following services:

  • Acute care, including diagnosis and treatment.
  • Clinical trials.
  • Long-term management.
  • Patient education.
  • Risk reduction strategies.

Diagnostic care

Our experts will perform a complete physical exam, order tests, and review your symptoms and medical history before diagnosing gout.

Patient education

Our team will work closely with you to help you understand your condition, treatment plan, and how you can reduce your risk of gout flare-ups.

Lifestyle changes

Your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of gout flare-ups and help you manage other chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Medication management

We offer medications to treat gout symptoms, prevent and reduce the risk of future flare-ups, and help manage related chronic conditions and risk factors. Our experts will select the right medication, dosage, and regimen for you.

Clinical trials and research

Our experts participate in clinical trials and research to learn more about gout and find new treatment options.

What Can I Expect?

How do I prepare for my first gout visit?

To prepare for your visit, you will be asked to provide:

  • Your name, address, and contact phone number.
  • Insurance information.
  • Relevant medical records and test results.
  • A referral, if required by your health insurance company.

If you get a referral from your primary care provider or another physician, they may be able to provide your test results and medical records to our team.

What do I need to bring to my first gout appointment?

On the day of your appointment, you should arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time.

You should bring:

  • A list of your medications.
  • Completed new patient paperwork, if needed.
  • Your health insurance card(s).
  • Your photo ID.

What if I need to cancel my appointment?

If you need to cancel your appointment, please call our office as soon as possible. We request at least 24 hours’ notice for all cancellations.

What Will Happen at My First Gout Visit?

When you arrive for your first appointment, you'll meet with a provider. They will ask about your medical history, perform an exam, and order tests.

When will I get my test results?

Your care team will let you know when your test results will be ready.

After our experts have your test results, health records, and exam information, they will diagnose your condition. They may schedule a follow-up visit to review your results and explain your treatment options.

Together, you and your health care provider will design and agree on a care plan, which may include:

  • Instructions for managing acute symptoms.
  • Long-term treatment strategies to reduce your risk of flare-ups.
  • Medication.
  • Participation in a clinical trial.
  • Patient education to help you understand your condition.

After Your Visit

Our team will schedule follow-up appointments to check how your treatment is working.

You should contact our office if:

  • You have questions about your treatment plan or medications.
  • Your symptoms get worse or do not improve as expected.
  • You have any other concerns about your condition.

Insurance and Billing

UPMC accepts many health insurance plans. We ask that you check with your health plan if you have questions about your coverage for doctor’s visits, hospital stays, diagnostic tests, or medical procedures. You're responsible for paying any non-covered charges.

If you have an insurance co-pay for office visits, you will be asked to pay it at the time of your visit. We accept most common forms of payment.

Scheduling Your Gout Appointment

To request an appointment, call 888-349-1506.

Why Choose UPMC for Gout Services?

When you choose UPMC, you'll receive:

  • Access to advanced clinical trials — Our team participates in leading-edge clinical trials and research to learn more about gout and find new, effective treatments.
  • Advanced treatment — Our team specializes in caring for patients with gout and is up to date on the latest treatments.
  • Specialized gout care — You'll receive advanced care from gout experts.

By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-04-17.

  • Medline Plus.
  • Medline Plus.
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login