Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Chondrocalcinosis, also known as calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD), is a type ofarthritisin which calcium crystals accumulate in joints, most commonly in the knee. The deposits cause irritation that leads toinflammation, joint degeneration, and cartilage damage.
This article describes the symptoms and causes of chondrocalcinosis, including how this inflammatory joint disorder is diagnosed and treated.
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Chondrocalcinosis Symptoms
Not everyone with chondrocalcinosis has symptoms. When symptoms occur, they most commonly impact the knees but can also affect the shoulders, wrists, elbows, ankles, or hands.
In addition to gout, chondrocalcinosis can also mimicosteoarthritis(wear-and-tear arthritis) andrheumatoid arthritis(a form ofautoimmunearthritis).
Symptoms of chondrocalcinosis include:
Gout
Chondrocalcinosis Causes
According to the Arthritis Foundation, almost half of people 85 and older have varying degrees of chondrocalcinosis.Most of the time, the cause is unknown, although the risk increases substantially with age. The condition also tends to run in families, so genetics may play a role.
Chondrocalcinosis is commonly seen in people with an underlying metabolic disease. These are diseases in which chemical processes go awry due to problems with organs (like the pancreas or liver).
These include:
Other risk factors for chondrocalcinosis include obesity,hypertension(high blood pressure), and chronic gout.
Diagnosing Chondrocalcinosis
The gold standard for the diagnosis of chondrocalcinosis is joint fluid aspiration, also known asarthrocentesis. This involves the insertion of a needle into a joint space to extract a sample of lubricating fluid known assynovial fluid.
Imaging studies may also be ordered to check for calcium deposits inside joints. They can also see if there is any sign of joint and/or cartilage deterioration.
The three imaging tools commonly used for diagnosis include:
Blood tests may be performed to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms.
Differential Diagnoses
To confirm the diagnosis, healthcare providers will investigate and exclude other conditions with symptoms similar to chondrocalcinosis.
Thedifferential diagnosiswould include:
Chondrocalcinosis Treatment
There are no medical treatments that can dissolve, destroy, or remove calcium crystal deposits in joint spaces. However, there are ways to manage symptoms of chondrocalcinosis and improve joint function.
Maintaining a healthy weight can also minimize stress on joints and reduce inflammation.
How Gout Is Treated
Summary
Chondrocalcinosis can be diagnosed with the evaluation of synovial fluids taken from the joint space and imaging studies like ultrasound or a CT scan. The treatment is focused on easing symptoms and reducing inflammation with ice or heat application, nonsteroidal painkillers, joint aspiration, cortisone shots, and possibly surgery in severe cases.
Joint Pain Causes and Treatment Options
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Rheumatology.Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.Arthritis Foundation.Calcium pyrophosphate deposition.Arthritis Foundation.Calcium pyrophosphate deposition.Cowley S, McCarthy G.Diagnosis and treatment of calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease: a review.Open Access Rheumatol.2023;15:33–41. doi:10.2147/OARRR.S389664Mohammed A, Alshamarri T, Adeyeye T, et al.A comparison of risk factors for osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis using NHANES data.Preventive Med Rep. 2020;20:101242. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101242American College of Rheumatology.Rheumatoid arthritis.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Rheumatology.Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.Arthritis Foundation.Calcium pyrophosphate deposition.Arthritis Foundation.Calcium pyrophosphate deposition.Cowley S, McCarthy G.Diagnosis and treatment of calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease: a review.Open Access Rheumatol.2023;15:33–41. doi:10.2147/OARRR.S389664Mohammed A, Alshamarri T, Adeyeye T, et al.A comparison of risk factors for osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis using NHANES data.Preventive Med Rep. 2020;20:101242. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101242American College of Rheumatology.Rheumatoid arthritis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American College of Rheumatology.Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.Arthritis Foundation.Calcium pyrophosphate deposition.Arthritis Foundation.Calcium pyrophosphate deposition.Cowley S, McCarthy G.Diagnosis and treatment of calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease: a review.Open Access Rheumatol.2023;15:33–41. doi:10.2147/OARRR.S389664Mohammed A, Alshamarri T, Adeyeye T, et al.A comparison of risk factors for osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis using NHANES data.Preventive Med Rep. 2020;20:101242. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101242American College of Rheumatology.Rheumatoid arthritis.
American College of Rheumatology.Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Gout.
Arthritis Foundation.Calcium pyrophosphate deposition.
Cowley S, McCarthy G.Diagnosis and treatment of calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease: a review.Open Access Rheumatol.2023;15:33–41. doi:10.2147/OARRR.S389664
Mohammed A, Alshamarri T, Adeyeye T, et al.A comparison of risk factors for osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis using NHANES data.Preventive Med Rep. 2020;20:101242. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101242
American College of Rheumatology.Rheumatoid arthritis.
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