Virtual Medical Centre

Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (Chondrocalcinosis, Pseudogout)

• What is Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease?
• Who gets Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease?
• Predisposing Factors
• Progression
• Probable Outcomes
• How is Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease Diagnosed?
• How is Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease treated?
• Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease References
• Drugs/Products Associated with Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease

What is Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease?

Pseudogout is a type of crystal arthropathy, like gout. The term crystal arthropathy means that crystals of a chemical (like urate in gout, and calcium pyrophosphate in pseudogout) are precipitating and depositing in the joint, leading to inflammation.

In pseudogout there is deposition of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals in the joint cartilage and the tissue around the joint. Shedding of the crystals into the joint produces an acute inflamed joint (like in gout) though pseudogout commonly involves the knee and wrist as opposed to gout which affects the big toe commonly. In pseudogout there can be gradual destruction of the joint as well.

Who gets Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease?

This condition commonly occurs in elderly women - patients are over 60.

It can occur in men as well.

Predisposing Factors

The cause of the condition is not known, though there are certain risk factors:

dehydration

intercurrent illness,

hyperparathyroidism (causing increased calcium in the blood),

myxoedema, diabetes mellitus,

decreased phosphate or decreased magnesium,

any arthritis,

haemochromatosis,

hyperthyroidism and

gout.

Progression

There is no way to predict the course of the disease in a particular patient.

In some recurrent acute attacks (as in gout but less severe) may be the norm with apparent normality between attacks.

Other patients may progress and develop significant joint damage with impairment of function.

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