- or “Chondrocalcinosis”
- Knee is most common; other large- & medium-joints too
- May occur in flares (mimics gout)
- May be chronic progressive (mimics osteoarthritis)
- Rarely mimics RA (attacks of multiple-joint arthritis, morning stiffness, lasting months)
Diagnosis
** Crystals in joint fluid (may be hard to find)- Either “positively bifringent” or “not bifringent”
- urate crystals of gout are “negatively bifringent”
- CPPD crystal deposition noted in cartilage or joint
- Radiology may report other findings “consistent with CPPD disease”
- Hemochromatosis
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Hypophosphatasia
- Hypomagnesemia
- Hypothyroidism
- Gitelman’s syndrome (low K+, Ca++, and Mg++)
See posting Monoarticular Arthritis.