Abstract: Objective To characterize the clinical features of the group of gout patients to facilitate earlier identification, and optimize the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. Methods The retrospective study analyzed 24 gout patients with shoulder joint(s) involved and consulted by physicians of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from March 2021 to April 2025, while 70 outpatient gout patients matched by clinical course duration and sex were enrolled as control group. Clinical data including medical history, laboratory tests, therapeutic interventions. Prognosis was systematically collected to delineate the distinctive clinical manifestations of the patients. Results All 24 gout patients with shoulder joints involved were male, aged (43.16±13.13)years and had an average BMI of 27.70±4.63. The duration of gout was 8(5,12) years while of those patients had an early onset before 30 years old. The maximal serum uric acid concentration was (754.15±175.79) μmol/L. It was shown by case review that 16.67% of the patients were asymptomatic, and 79.17% suffered from shoulder pain. A quarter of the patients developed subcutaneous tophi. All the patients affected (P＜0.05). The affected joints ascended from lower extremities to the upper averagely took 4.72±2.80 years and had heavier burden of hyperuricemia (P＜0.05), while no significant difference was found in renal function and inflammation level. Conclusions Gout patients with shoulder joints involvement are older and have atypical manifestation. The diagnosis needs support of imaging or arthrocentesis.

Key words: gout, glenohumeral joint, acromioclavicular joint, arthrocentesis