A 55-year-old male presents to the emergency department with severe pain, redness, and swelling in his right big toe that started suddenly overnight. He has a history of hypertension and admits to consuming alcohol frequently. His serum uric acid level is 9.2 mg/dL (normal range: 3.4–7.0 mg/dL). What is the primary mechanism by which monosodium urate (MSU) crystals initiate inflammation in this patient’s acute gout flare?
