Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes flare-ups of joint swelling and pain. Kidney disease and gout commonly co-occur and may each contribute to the development of the other.

Gout is a complication of a condition called hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia is when levels of uric acid build up in the body. Uric acid is created from the breakdown of purines found in some foods.

Kidney disease may impair your body’s ability to excrete uric acid and may increase your risk of developing gout. A reverse relationship has also been noted where people with gout seem to increase kidney disease more frequently.

Keep reading to learn more about the connection between gout and kidney disease.

Gout and chronic kidney disease often co-occur.

Some research suggests that high uric acid levels may harm your kidneys and may contribute to the development and progression of kidney disease. However, the link between gout and kidney disease remains controversial.

The connection may also be partially explained by high rates of shared risk factors, such as:

Gout is the most common complication of hyperuricemia, but not everybody with hyperuricemia develops gout.

In a 2018 study, researchers found that, after adjusting for factors like age, sex, and other health problems, people with gout were 1.78 times more likely to develop stage 3 or greater chronic kidney disease than people without gout.

Stage 3 chronic kidney disease is considered moderate severity.

Gout can develop if your body:

  • produces too much uric acid
  • doesn’t excrete enough uric acid
  • a combination of both

Impaired urinary excretion of uric acid is responsible for hyperuricemia in about 90% of cases.

About two-thirds of uric acid is filtered through your kidneys and the remaining third occurs through your gastrointestinal tract.

Acute or chronic kidney disease can impair the ability of your kidneys to excrete uric acid and can potentially contribute to the development of gout.

The most common gout symptom is pain in your affected joint, along with:

  • swelling
  • redness
  • tenderness

Many people with gout have pain in their big toe on one side. Flare-ups often start suddenly at night and cause joint:

  • swelling
  • redness
  • warmth

Gout flare-ups usually occur in one joint and typically improve over 1 or 2 weeks. Gout seems to be more common among racial minorities in the United States.

Learn more about gout symptoms.

Early stage kidney disease doesn’t tend to cause symptoms since your kidneys can usually compensate for their impaired function.

In the later stages, you may develop:

It’s important to seek medical help if you develop persistent or worsening symptoms that may be caused by kidney disease.

It’s also important to see a doctor if you develop sudden and sharp joint pain. Although sudden joint pain can be a sign of gout, it can also be a sign of other types of inflammatory arthritis or joint problems.

Here’s a look at treatment options for gout and kidney disease.

Kidney disease treatment

Chronic kidney disease doesn’t have a cure but treatment options include:

  • lifestyle changes like reducing your sodium intake
  • medications to treat associated conditions like high blood pressure or high cholesterol
  • dialysis for people with advanced kidney disease
  • kidney transplant to replace a kidney with one from a donor

Gout treatment

Treatment for gout aims to:

  • reduce pain from your flare-ups
  • prevent future flare-ups
  • prevent joint damage
  • treat complications like heart and kidney disease

A doctor may recommend or prescribe:

Read more about gout treatment.

Dietary changes you can take to support kidney disease include:

  • eating mostly fresh foods
  • choosing mostly low sodium foods
  • eating small portions of protein
  • choosing heart-healthy foods and oils
  • limiting alcohol

Foods to avoid with gout and kidney disease

For people with gout, it’s best to avoid foods that are high in purines. Some high-purine foods include:

  • alcohol
  • bacon
  • beef
  • lamb
  • turkey
  • veal
  • venison
  • organ meats
  • certain fish
  • shellfish

Here are some frequently asked questions people have about gout and kidney disease.

Does gout mean my kidneys are failing?

Developing gout doesn’t necessarily mean you have kidney disease. Many people develop gout without problems with their kidneys.

How can you reduce uric acid in the kidneys?

Most of the uric acid in your diet comes from a substance in your diet called purines. Lowering your purine intake may help reduce the amount of uric acid in your body.

Gout is an inflammatory arthritis that causes sudden flare-ups of joint pain, often in your big toes. It’s caused by the buildup of a substance called uric acid your body produces from purines in your diet.

Kidney disease might contribute to the buildup of uric acid in your body and the development of gout. In reverse, gout may contribute to kidney damage and make you more prone to developing chronic kidney disease.