Jim Belushi has joined with Savient Pharmaceuticals to launch a new educational campaign, “Check Out Your Gout,” to raise awareness about gout and a severe form of the condition known as refractory chronic gout, or RCG.
As an actor, singer and performer, Belushi’s roles range from dramatic to light-hearted, but when it comes to his gout – he is nothing but serious. The “Check Out Your Gout” campaign aims to encourage people to get serious about gout and take action to learn more about the condition. Launched from Chicago, Belushi’s hometown and location of the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology taking place this week, the campaign will feature broadcast and online videos, as well as an educational website, CheckOutYourGout.com.
Gout is a debilitating form of arthritis affecting approximately eight million Americans. Triggered by high levels of uric acid in the blood, gout causes pain and swelling in the joints and can result in deposits of uric acid crystals under the skin, called tophi. RCG occurs when uric acid levels remain high and symptoms persist despite available conventional therapies. RCG symptoms may be debilitating, due to the frequency and severity of episodes, the recurrent painful gout attacks and the disfigurement associated with the condition.
“When I first developed gout, I didn’t want to do anything about it. I thought I could tough it out; but when the pain became too unbearable for me to perform on stage, I saw a rheumatologist and got my gout under control,” said Belushi. “I am taking part in the ‘Check Out Your Gout’ campaign to let people know that gout is a very painful condition that should be taken seriously, and to tell those who are or may be affected by gout or RCG to check it out and work with a doctor to identify the best management plan.”
As part of the campaign, Jim will share his personal experience with gout through national and local media appearances and additional programming planned for next year.
“Gout continues to be widely misperceived and overlooked,” said Louis Ferrari, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations North America, Savient Pharmaceuticals. “Our hope is that through the ‘Check Out Your Gout’ campaign Savient, together with Jim, can increase awareness and understanding of gout and RCG.”
To get the real facts about gout and RCG visit www.CheckOutYourGout.com.
