Could a Gout Attack Cause Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischaemic Optic Neuropathy?

ABSTRACT

Non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a common cause of optic neuropathy in individuals over the age of 50. While risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidaemia have been identified, recent literature suggests that new risk factors may be associated with NAION. This article reports a case of NAION that occurred concurrently with an acute gout attack in a 78-year-old male patient with no other systemic diseases. We suggest that gout may be a new potential risk factor for NAION as it has the potential to cause inflammation and vascular dysfunction, particularly during acute attacks. The case emphasises the importance of considering gout as a possible risk factor in the aetiology of NAION.

KEYWORDS:

• Gout
• hyperuricaemia
• inflammatory arthritis
• non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy
• optic neuropathy

Author contributions

All authors contributed significantly to the creation of this manuscript; each fulfilled the criteria as established by the ICMJE.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.