Gout is the most frequent arthritis worldwide with increasing prevalence in industrialized countries and massive socioeconomic consequences. The knowledge regarding the pathomechanisms which lead to arthritis has substantially increased during the last decade. Consistently, new therapeutic approaches and substances appear at the horizon. This review covers aspects of clinical presentation, diagnosis and current treatment. The pathomechanisms leading to NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1beta secretion are reviewed in detail. Finally, selected new therapeutic targets and substances are discussed.