Q. A 53-year-old man comes to the emergency department for sudden onset of severe pain in the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint on the right side since midnight. The pain is constant and he was unable to sleep. He denies trauma. He says that he had similar attacks in the same joint a few months ago and subsided on taking NSAIDs. His medical history shows he has been diagnosed with hypertension a year ago and is taking 50 mg of Hydrochlorothiazide twice daily. He is an alcoholic and recently he has increased his alcohol intake due to his recent job loss. His temperature is 98.4°F (36.9°C), pulse is 88 beats per minute, BP is 130/76 mm of Hg and respiratory rate is 14/min. His BMI is 32 kg/m2. Physical examination shows a swollen, erythematous, warm, and extremely tender first MTP joint of his right foot. The rest of the examination is unremarkable. The radiograph of the right foot shows punched-out erosions with overhanging edges at the first MTP joint. The doctor starts the treatment based on his clinical features and radiograph findings. Which of the following statements is false about the disease that he is currently suffering from?