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Pseudogout
Definition:
Pseudogout is a joint disease that may include intermittent attacks of arthritis. Alternative Names:
Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease; CPPD Text Continues Below
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Pseudogout is caused by the collection of calcium pyrophosphate crystals in joints. There may be attacks of joint swelling and pain in the knees, wrists, ankles, and other joints. This condition primarily affects the elderly and usually has no known cause. However, it can sometimes affect younger patients who have conditions such as acromegaly, ochronosis, thyroid disease, hemochromatosis, Wilson disease, and parathyroid disease, which are known to increase risk. Pseudogout can be initially be misdiagnosed as gouty arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteoarthritis because the symptoms are similar to those of these conditions.
Careful workup, with analysis of crystals found in joints, should ultimately lead to the correct diagnosis. Fortunately, because most conditions involving joint pain are treated by the same medicines, early misdiagnosis does not necessarily result in inappropriate treatment. Such treatment often includes steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),
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