Gout and pseudogout
What the FAA's documents say about gout and pseudogout, in plain words, with the FAA's own words one press away.
Short version
The FAA's table sorts it into two rows.
| Situation | What the examiner does | Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Well controlledWell controlled | Examiner issues | Examiner can issue |
| Not controlled, or the findings listedNot controlled, or any of the findings the row lists | Defers to the FAA | FAA review |
Show the FAA's words: the FAA's table for Gout and pseudogout
- Well controlled · Examiner can issue
Gout or pseudogout, well controlled. The row's evaluation data is that interview and examination reveal no persistent symptoms or functional impairment, and medication combinations of NSAIDS, uric acid reducers (allopurinol, etc.) or uric acid excreters (probenecid) with no aeromedically significant side effects. The page says ISSUE, and has the examiner note the findings in block 60.
Gout Pseudogout Well controlled … Interview and examination reveal: … No persistent symptoms or functional impairment. … Med combinations of NSAIDS, uric acid reducers (allopurinol, etc.), or uric acid excreters (probenecid) with no aeromedically significant side effects. … ISSUE Note findings in block 60.
- Not controlled, or the findings listed · FAA review
Gout or pseudogout with functional impairment, joint deformity, recurrent kidney stones, medications other than those above, not controlled, or persistent symptoms. The page asks for a current status report. The examiner defers and submits records to the FAA for decision, and the page says follow-up is per SI/AASI.
Gout Pseudogout Functional impairment Joint deformity Kidney stones, recurrent Meds other than above Not controlled Persistent symptoms … Submit a current status report that addresses: … DEFER Submit records to the FAA for decision Follow up - per SI/AASI
The FAA pathways for gout and pseudogout
- How this pathway works: Examiner can issueNo special pathwayWell controlled
- FAA reviewYour AME defers. The FAA decides.Not controlled, or the findings listed
Which one describes yours?
The FAA's table sorts it these ways. Choose yours to see its plan.
Your step-by-step plan
Step 1: What interview and examination reveal
The well-controlled row: symptoms, function and medications.Medication combinations with no aeromedically significant side effects.
The row names
- NSAIDS
- Uric acid reducers (allopurinol, etc.)
- Uric acid excreters (probenecid)
Interview and examination also reveal
- No persistent symptoms or functional impairment
Show the FAA's words: What interview and examination reveal
Interview and examination reveal:
Med combinations of NSAIDS, uric acid reducers (allopurinol, etc.), or uric acid excreters (probenecid) with no aeromedically significant side effects.
FAA source: Gout and Pseudogout. FAA date 27 April 2015; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Interview and examination reveal:
No persistent symptoms or functional impairment.
FAA source: Gout and Pseudogout. FAA date 27 April 2015; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
ISSUE Note findings in block 60.
FAA source: Gout and Pseudogout. FAA date 27 April 2015; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
Step 2: See your AME
The page says ISSUE, and has the examiner note the findings in block 60.Exam day- The page says ISSUE, and has the examiner note the findings in block 60.
Show the FAA's words: See your AME
Gout Pseudogout Well controlled
Interview and examination reveal:
No persistent symptoms or functional impairment.
Med combinations of NSAIDS, uric acid reducers (allopurinol, etc.), or uric acid excreters (probenecid) with no aeromedically significant side effects.
ISSUE Note findings in block 60.
FAA source: Gout and Pseudogout. FAA date 27 April 2015; checked by Crosscheck 14 October 2026.
What the examiner checks
It depends on which row of the FAA's table describes the case.
Well controlledExaminer issuesExaminer can issue
The page says ISSUE, and has the examiner note the findings in block 60.
Not controlled, or the findings listedDefers to the FAAFAA review
The page asks for a current status report. The examiner defers and submits records to the FAA for decision, and the page says follow-up is per SI/AASI.
If the examiner defers
Show the FAA's words: what the examiner does on each row
- Well controlled · Examiner can issue
Gout or pseudogout, well controlled. The row's evaluation data is that interview and examination reveal no persistent symptoms or functional impairment, and medication combinations of NSAIDS, uric acid reducers (allopurinol, etc.) or uric acid excreters (probenecid) with no aeromedically significant side effects. The page says ISSUE, and has the examiner note the findings in block 60.
Gout Pseudogout Well controlled … Interview and examination reveal: … No persistent symptoms or functional impairment. … Med combinations of NSAIDS, uric acid reducers (allopurinol, etc.), or uric acid excreters (probenecid) with no aeromedically significant side effects. … ISSUE Note findings in block 60.
- Not controlled, or the findings listed · FAA review
Gout or pseudogout with functional impairment, joint deformity, recurrent kidney stones, medications other than those above, not controlled, or persistent symptoms. The page asks for a current status report. The examiner defers and submits records to the FAA for decision, and the page says follow-up is per SI/AASI.
Gout Pseudogout Functional impairment Joint deformity Kidney stones, recurrent Meds other than above Not controlled Persistent symptoms … Submit a current status report that addresses: … DEFER Submit records to the FAA for decision Follow up - per SI/AASI
If the examiner defersFAA review
The page's second row names functional impairment, joint deformity, recurrent kidney stones, medications other than above, not controlled, and persistent symptoms, and it is marked DEFER.
What the FAA lists to send
- Item 1. A current status report that addresses the clinical course, the extent of renal involvement, the current treatment, side effects and prognosis, and the extent of joint deformity or functional impairment and whether it would impair operation of aircraft controls.
Show the FAA's words: if the examiner defers
When the examiner defers
- Reason 1
The page's second row names functional impairment, joint deformity, recurrent kidney stones, medications other than above, not controlled, and persistent symptoms, and it is marked DEFER.
Gout Pseudogout Functional impairment Joint deformity Kidney stones, recurrent Meds other than above Not controlled Persistent symptoms … DEFER Submit records to the FAA for decision
What the FAA lists to send
- Item 1
A current status report that addresses the clinical course, the extent of renal involvement, the current treatment, side effects and prognosis, and the extent of joint deformity or functional impairment and whether it would impair operation of aircraft controls.
Submit a current status report that addresses: … Clinical course with severity and frequency of exacerbations to include interval between and date of most recent flare; extent of renal involvement; current treatment, side effects, and prognosis; and … Describe extent of joint deformity or functional impairment and if it would impair operation of aircraft controls.
After the FAA decides
The page says follow-up is per SI/AASI.
Show the FAA's words: after the FAA decides
DEFER Submit records to the FAA for decision Follow up - per SI/AASI
Good to know
Points from the FAA's own documents that are easy to miss.
What a progress note must include
In most cases it should come from a visit with the treating physician no more than 90 days ago, and cover the history, medications with dosages and side effects, exam findings, test results, diagnosis, assessment and plan, prognosis and follow-up. The FAA's sheet says to make sure the physician adds the prognosis. A portal note or an After Visit Summary that does not meet these criteria is not enough, and neither is a simple "ok to fly" letter. The FAA's documents also call it a status report.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 1
your patient portal to print out “notes” or an “After Visit Summary (AVS).” … Patient Portal notes or an AVS that do not meet the criteria listed below for a detailed Clinical Progress Note are NOT sufficient for FAA purposes. … To be “current,” in MOST CASES, the detailed Clinical Progress Note should be from an evaluation in which you saw your treating physician no more than 90 days ago. … It Must include the following items: … A summary of the history of the condition, … Current medications, dosages, and side effects (if any); … Clinical exam findings; … Results of any testing performed; … Diagnosis; … Assessment and Plan; … Prognosis (This item may not be on a standard progress note, make sure your physician adds this information.); and … Follow-up … Please note: A letter stating, “Mr. Smith is ok to fly” (or any other simple note), is NOT a current, detailed Clinical Progress Note and is NOT acceptable. … You may also see this called a “current status report” or “status report” in current FAA Guidance. Any reference to a “status report” equals the criteria listed on this sheet.
Other medications are the deferred row
The well-controlled row names medication combinations of NSAIDS, uric acid reducers (allopurinol, etc.), or uric acid excreters (probenecid) with no aeromedically significant side effects. Medications other than those are in the second row, marked DEFER.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 2
Med combinations of NSAIDS, uric acid reducers (allopurinol, etc.), or uric acid excreters (probenecid) with no aeromedically significant side effects. … Meds other than above Not controlled Persistent symptoms … DEFER Submit records to the FAA for decision
Recurrent kidney stones are in the deferred row
The page's second row names recurrent kidney stones, and the status report it asks for addresses the extent of renal involvement.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 3
Kidney stones, recurrent … extent of renal involvement;
Joint deformity and the aircraft controls
The status report the page asks for describes the extent of joint deformity or functional impairment and whether it would impair operation of aircraft controls.
Show the FAA's words: good to know, 4
Describe extent of joint deformity or functional impairment and if it would impair operation of aircraft controls.
FAA sources
Every FAA document this page relies on, with the FAA's own date and the date Crosscheck last read it. The documents to print open at the FAA, so they are always the FAA's current ones.
Related conditions
Each has its own page, with what the FAA's documents say about it.
Medication guidance
Medications Crosscheck lists as taken for gout and pseudogout, each with its own page on what published FAA guidance says about it.
- Uric acid reducer, named in the FAA's gout table
This reports what the FAA has published. It is not medical advice, and it does not say how the FAA or an examiner will decide a case.