Nokea
Mr Soh, a 40-year-old accountant on allopurinol 200 mg OM for the past eight months, reports two recent gout attacks in the last year. He has no other known past medical history. When you probe, he is adherent to allopurinol except for missing it perhaps once or twice a month. His BMI is 25 kg/m², BP 144/94 mmHg. His last uric acid was one month ago, which was 405 mmol/L. He is having a gout attack now. He tells you that his gout attacks are usually aborted with colchicine TDS for two days. Whilst on colchicine, he does not experience diarrhoea except perhaps one episode of loose stools after which he stops colchicine. Which is the most appropriate next step?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Current gout attack with uric acid 405 mmol/L (above target <360) on allopurinol 200 mg suggests undertreatment. Continue allopurinol (not stop) during flares, add colchicine TDS for acute relief, and address BP 144/94 with Losartan urate-lowering and cardioprotective, unlike HCTZ, which raises urate. Check creatinine and up-titrate allopurinol later. This balances acute and chronic management effectively.