Complications of untreated gout include?

• A. Hypertension
• B. Hearing loss
• C. Impaired joint mobility and renal damage
• D. Skin rash

Answer: (C)

Untreated gout leads to chronic urate crystal deposition in joints and the kidneys, causing ongoing inflammatory damage that affects function. This can result in impaired joint mobility as the joints become stiff and may develop tophi with loss of motion. In the kidneys, urate crystals can cause uric acid nephrolithiasis and urate nephropathy, potentially reducing renal function over time. Hypertension is common in people with gout due to shared metabolic risk factors, but it is not a direct complication of gout itself, whereas hearing loss or a skin rash are not typical consequences. So the combination of impaired joint mobility and renal damage best reflects the complications of untreated gout.