ten Klooster PM, Kraiss JT, Munters R, et al. - In gout patients, presence of generalized pain hypersensitivity seems to be quite common, despite its more intermittent nature relative to other inflammatory arthritides. Since such type of pain does not show good response to regular treatment, screening for non-inflammatory pain could be essential for improving pain management in gout.

• In this cross-sectional study, 97 outpatients with crystal proven gout (84.5% male; mean ± standard deviation age: 68.9 ± 11.9 years) were investigated for generalized pain hypersensitivity.

• Of participants, 20 patients (20.6%) admitted possible generalized pain hypersensitivity defined as a generalized pain questionnaire (GPQ) score ≥11 (range: 0–28; mean ± standard deviation GPQ: 6.3 ± 5.3).

• Factors independently linked with generalized pain hypersensitivity include: lower age, concomitant fibromyalgia, and more experienced difficulties in performing their social role.

• Significantly lower use of urate lowering therapy was reported in patients with generalized pain hypersensitivity.