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Pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate disease)

Chondrocalcinosis (arthropathia pyrophosphatica) · Pseudodna (onemocnění z krystalů pyrofosfátu vápenatého)

What it is

Calcium pyrophosphate crystals in cartilage cause gout-like attacks, usually of the knee in older people.

Symptoms & signs

  • Sudden hot, swollen, painful knee or wrist
  • fever in older people
  • chronic arthritis-like aching
  • crystals seen on X-ray as calcified cartilage

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Hot swollen joint with fever or shivers
  • call 112 / 911 now Confusion with a painful joint in an older person
  • see a doctor soon First attack of a hot joint
  • see a doctor soon Several joints swollen at once

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Joint aspiration to find crystals and rule out infection
  • steroid injection into the joint
  • NSAIDs or colchicine
  • oral steroids
  • check calcium, magnesium, iron and thyroid

Natural & lifestyle

  • Ice and rest during attacks
  • keep active between attacks
  • correct low magnesium

Emerging & experimental

  • Anakinra (IL-1 blocker) for resistant attacks
  • methotrexate (trials negative)

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Magnesium — may dissolve crystals in theory; small studies early / small studies
  • Cherry juice — studied in gout, not here anecdotal / traditional
  • Apple cider vinegar — anecdotal anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes