Criteria of Wallace et al for the Classification of Acute Gouty Arthritis (ARA Proposed Criteria)

Are urate crystals present in fluid aspirated from an affected joint?

Number of attacks of acute arthritis that the patient has experienced

Number of hours for maximum inflammation to develop during an attack

Is the attack limited to a single joint?

Is the skin overlying affected joint(s) red and inflamed?

Is a first metatarsophalangeal joint painful or swollen?

Number of first metatarsophalangeal joints affected

Number of tarsal joints affected

Does the patient have a tophus?

Does the tophus contain urate crystals by chemical analysis or light microscopy?

Serum uric acid level

Upper limit of reference range for uric acid

Is asymmetric swelling of the joint seen on X-ray?

Are subcortical cysts without erosions seen on X-rays?

Is the joint fluid culture negative for micro-organisms?