Pseudogout is a condition that affects the joints of the body causing inflammation. Calcium pyrophosphate crystals accumulate in these joints and have a rhomboid shaped appearance under microscope. Some affected joints are the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle and hip joint. The main cause is unknown, but pseudogout occurs more commonly in people over the age of 50.
Symptoms usually noticed are swelling, pain, tenderness, redness, fever, stiffness and difficulty walking.
Pseudogout can occur along with other conditions such as:
- Gout
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Hemochromatosis
- Trauma, sepsis
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Hypophosphatemia
- Hypothyroidism
Diagnostic Tests can be done by your rheumatologist to confirm the cause such as:
- Blood tests to rule out other conditions.
- A procedure known as arthrocentesis. In this procedure, samples of fluid are taken from around the joint showing the presence of calcium pyrophosphate crystals.
- Xray’s of the joints affected that show soft tissue deposition of calcium pyrophosphate crystals.
Treatment can include:
- NSAIDS
- Intraarticular corticosteroid injections
- Colchicine
If you have symptoms consistent with pseudogout, make an appointment with Dr. Ramona Mihu, the Rheumatologist at Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine today.