A rare and asymptomatic case of mitral valve tophus associated with severe gouty tophaceous arthritis

Gouty arthritis is characterized by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in the joints and soft tissues. Clinical manifestations include acute and chronic arthritis and tophaceous deposits. Chronic tophaceous gout has become less common since the introduction of the pharmacological treatment. Moreover, cardiac valve gouty tophi have been very rarely reported. (C) 2004, Editrice Kurtis.