Abdul Ali Abdellatif, M.D.: Exploring Advanced Gout Treatment Options for Transplant Patients

In an interview with The Educated Patient, Abdul Ali Abdellatif, M.D., clinical assistant professor of medicine within the Division of Nephrology, Kidney Hypertension Transplant Clinic, at Baylor College of Medicine, emphasizes the need for transplant patients with gout to be aware of all available treatment options, particularly beyond standard oral medications.

He notes that many patients are unaware that if their gout remains uncontrolled or if they continue to experience symptoms despite oral medications, there are additional therapies available, such as infusion therapy. This therapy is typically administered every two weeks over several months until the disease is well managed.

Abdellatif highlights that infusion therapy can be particularly effective for transplant patients. Since these patients are already on medications to prevent organ rejection, they are also less likely to reject the infused medication, experience fewer side effects and have a reduced risk of infusion reactions. In clinical trials, this approach showed promising results: About 90% of patients with uncontrolled gout, who had been on standard care for at least three months and were a year posttransplant, responded positively to the infusion therapy.

Looking ahead, Abdellatif expresses a strong interest in understanding the long-term outcomes of treating uncontrolled gout in transplant patients. There are currently no data on whether controlling gout early in these patients can decrease risks of complications, such as bone fractures or chronic arthritis, compared with those who are untreated or not fully controlled. He pointed out that uncontrolled gout can cause uric acid to deposit in the joints, leading to destructive arthritis — where both cartilage and bone suffer damage, increasing the risk of chronic arthritis and fractures.

Abdellatif, who has managed gout patients for 15 years, emphasized a critical message: Gout is a chronic and progressive disease that can cause severe joint and bone damage if not properly managed. Treating acute flare-ups with anti-inflammatory agents, colchicine or pain relief medications addresses the symptoms only temporarily and does not eliminate uric acid, the underlying cause of gout.

For effective management, patients must understand that gout treatment is lifelong, involving urate-lowering oral medications. If target levels are not reached with these medications, patients should ask their healthcare providers about other options, including infusion therapy.

Abdellatif stresses that many patients suffer from severe, uncontrolled gout for years simply because they are unaware that additional treatment options exist. His goal is to ensure that patients understand the full spectrum of treatment possibilities to better control their disease and improve their quality of life.