Case Scenario: History and Physical Examination
A 62-year-old woman experienced pain in her left knee unrelated to trauma. The pain was primarily with weight bearing. She was being treated for hypertension but is otherwise healthy.
An examination of her knee showed tenderness over the medial epicondyle superior to the joint margin. There was a small effusion in her left knee.
Laboratory Data
Her laboratory data was normal, including the RF assay, except for an elevated uric acid level. An x-ray film of her knee was read as normal.
Questions
Q1. What is the cause of her painful knee?
Q2. What might the effusion in her left knee demonstrate microscopically?
Q3. Would a restricted diet be of value?