Chondrocalcinosis

Pseudogout:

-Due to the deposition of calcium pyrophosphate crystals into the joints, clinically it presents identical to the acute gouty arthritis, most commonly occurring in the knee, ankle, shoulder and Wrist joints.

-Most commonly occurs in joints with a previous damage; in elderly with no history of joint lesion always think about metabolic causes like hyperparathyroidism, hemochromatosis, hypophosphatemia and hypomagnesaemia.

Diagnosis is established through aspiration of the synovial fluid showing characteristic rectangular, rhomboid shaped POSITIVE BIREFRINGENCE crystals.

X-ray will show characteristic chondrocalcinosis. (IMPORTANT)

Management is identical to acute gouty arthritis, with NSAIDs, or steroids in elderly patients with renal impairments whom cannot tolerate NSAIDs or colchicine which is rarely used in general.