Learn About Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis

View Main Condition: Arthritis

What is the definition of Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis?

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) arthritis is a joint disease that can cause attacks of arthritis. Like gout, crystals form in the joints. But in this arthritis, the crystals are not formed from uric acid.

What are the alternative names for Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis?

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease; CPPD disease; Acute/chronic CPPD arthritis; Pseudogout; Pyrophosphate arthropathy; Chondrocalcinosis

What are the causes of Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis?

Deposition of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) causes this form of arthritis. The buildup of this chemical forms crystals in the cartilage of joints. This leads to attacks of joint swelling and pain most often in the knees, wrists, ankles, and shoulders. Other joints can be affected as well. In contrast to gout, the metatarsal-phalangeal joint of the big toe is not affected.

Among older adults, CPPD is a common cause of sudden (acute) arthritis in one joint. The attack may be caused by:

  • Injury to the joint
  • Medical stress

CPPD arthritis mainly affects the elderly because joint degeneration and osteoarthritis increases with age. Such joint damage increases the tendency of CPPD deposition. However, CPPD arthritis is also more common in people with:

  • Hemochromatosis
  • Parathyroid gland disease
  • Dialysis-dependent renal failure
What are the symptoms of Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis?

In most cases, CPPD deposits do not cause any symptoms. Instead, x-rays of affected joints such as knees show characteristic deposits of calcium.

Some people with chronic CPPD deposits in large joints may have the following symptoms:

  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Warmth
  • Redness

Attacks of joint pain can last for months. There may be no symptoms between attacks.

In some people CPPD arthritis causes severe damage to a joint.

CPPD arthritis can also occur in the upper and lower spine. Pressure on spinal nerves may cause pain in the arms or legs.

Because the symptoms are similar, CPPD arthritis can be confused with:

  • Gouty arthritis (gout)
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
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What are the current treatments for Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis?

Treatment may involve removing fluid to relieve pressure in the joint. A needle is placed into the joint and fluid is aspirated. Some common treatment options are:

  • Steroid injections: to treat severely swollen joints
  • Oral steroids: to treat multiple swollen joints
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs): to ease the pain
  • Colchicine: to treat attacks of CPPD arthritis
  • For chronic CPPD arthritis in multiple joints, methotrexate or hydroxychloroquine may be helpful
Who are the top Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis Local Doctors?

Northern Arizona Healthcare Corporation

269 S Candy Ln, 
Cottonwood, AZ 
 38.6 mi
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Brian Duggan is an Orthopedics provider in Cottonwood, Arizona. Dr. Duggan and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis. His top areas of expertise are Osteoarthritis, Tendinitis, Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis, Tenosynovitis, and Hip Replacement. Dr. Duggan is currently accepting new patients.

Mori Bean And Brooks Inc

26 Rim Trail Cir, 
Sedona, AZ 
 30.0 mi
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Alan Ericksen is a Radiologist in Sedona, Arizona. Dr. Ericksen and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis. His top areas of expertise are Saddle Pulmonary Embolism, Vertigo, Chronic Cough, and Pleurisy. Dr. Ericksen is currently accepting new patients.

 
 
 
 
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Orthopedics | Hand Surgery
Orthopedics | Hand Surgery

Northern Arizona Healthcare Corporation

340 S Willard St, 
Cottonwood, AZ 
 38.6 mi
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Adam Schneider is an Orthopedics specialist and a Hand Surgeon in Cottonwood, Arizona. Dr. Schneider and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis. His top areas of expertise are Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Rhizarthrosis, Osteoarthritis, Ganglion Cyst, and Hip Replacement. Dr. Schneider is currently accepting new patients.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis?

Most people do well with treatment to reduce the acute joint pain. A medicine such as colchicine may help prevent repeat attacks. There is no treatment to remove the CPPD crystals.

What are the possible complications of Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis?

Permanent joint damage can occur without treatment.

When should I contact a medical professional for Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis?

Contact your provider if you have attacks of joint swelling and joint pain.

How do I prevent Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis?

There is no known way to prevent this disorder. However, treating other problems that may cause CPPD arthritis may make the condition less severe.

Regular follow-up visits may help prevent permanent damage of the affected joints.

What are the latest Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis Clinical Trials?
A Monocentric Clinical Study Evaluating Clinical and Patient-reported Outcomes of Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty With SMR Stemless

Summary: The objectives of this study are the assessment of the clinical, radiographical and patient-reported outcomes of SMR Stemless Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty (LimaCorporate S.p.A.) used as standard of care over a period of at least 2 years of follow-up and the evaluation of the incidence of any complication.

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Data Collection for the Constitution of an Observatory for Patients Suffering From Microcrystalline Rheumatism With Morphological Phenotyping

Summary: The objective of this research is to collect data to create an observatory of microcrystalline rheumatism (gout and calcium-crystal rheumatism) in patients treated at the Groupement des Hôpitaux de l'Institut Catholique de Lille, in order to better understand the disease and improve patient care, in particular with the help of medical imaging.

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: March 31, 2024
Published By: Neil J. Gonter, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Columbia University, NY and private practice specializing in Rheumatology at Rheumatology Associates of North Jersey, Teaneck, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

Edwards NL. Crystal deposition diseases. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 252.

Terkeltaub R. Calcium crystal disease: calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate and basic calcium phosphate. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, Koretzky GA, McInnes IB, O'Dell JR, eds. Firestein & Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 102.