Speakers: Prof. Dr. med. Jean-François Chenot & Dr. rer. nat. Julia Truthmann (University Medicine)

Gout was already a well-known ailment in antiquity and the Middle Ages. It was often referred to as the "plague of kings", as it mainly affected wealthy people with a rich diet. An acute attack of gout is characterized by sudden, severe pain in the joints, often in the area of the big toe. It is caused by increased uric acid levels in the blood and the resulting formation of uric acid crystals in the joints. For a long time, the cause of this "complaint" remained a mystery and treatment was limited to alleviating the symptoms.

In our lecture, we will shed light on the disease from the first historical descriptions to modern research. We will look at risk factors such as genetic predisposition, certain medications and lifestyle. We will show who is particularly affected by the disease today and how the view of gout, its diagnosis and its treatment has changed. We also address open research questions and the role of the Department of General Medicine at Greifswald University Hospital in gout research.

Since 2004, scientists from the University of Greifswald have been presenting their research projects in the lecture series "University in the Town Hall" in the Bürgerschaftssaal of the Town Hall. The aim of the lecture series is to give the general public an insight into the diverse research carried out at the University's five faculties. Admission is free.