How long does it usually take for uric acid crystals to dissolve?

  The time to dissolution of uric acid crystals depends on the level of control of individual blood uric acid.  Uric acid crystals are usually caused by high blood uric acid levels and can form and precipitate locally in needle-like crystals, commonly under the skin, in the joints and in the kidneys. In daily life, patients should have a low purine diet and drink more water, at least 2000ml per day, to promote uric acid excretion. Sodium bicarbonate tablets are also given orally to raise the pH value of urine and alkalize the urine so that the crystals will gradually dissolve. In addition, uric acid-lowering medications such as allopurinol, benzbromarone, febuxostat, etc. can also be taken to keep the uric acid level below 300umol/L for a long time. After the above comprehensive treatment, uric acid crystals usually start to dissolve gradually after 1-2 months, but it depends on the site and size when the uric acid crystals can completely dissolve and disappear. Even if the patient’s uric acid level is maintained at the desired level, huge, longer-lasting gout stones are usually difficult to disappear completely.  In addition, if a patient has large gout stones that have caused joint deformation and seriously affected the patient’s normal life, surgical treatment is required based on adequate uric acid level control.