What condition is caused by the formation of monosodium urate crystals in joints due to increased uric acid levels?

The condition caused by the formation of monosodium urate crystals in joints as a result of elevated uric acid levels is gout. In gout, excessive uric acid in the blood can lead to the precipitation of these crystals, which provoke intense inflammatory responses when they deposit in the synovial fluid of joints. This inflammation is often characterized by sudden and severe episodes of pain, swelling, and redness in affected joints, typically starting with the big toe, a condition often referred to as podagra.

Gout is distinct from other conditions like pseudogout, which is related to calcium pyrophosphate crystals, and does not involve monosodium urate. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that primarily affects the synovial joints but is not related to uric acid levels, while osteoarthritis involves the degeneration of joint cartilage and does not specifically arise from crystal deposition. The key factor that differentiates gout from these other types of arthritis is the underlying mechanism of crystal formation due to hyperuricemia.