What is pseudo gout?

If you are seeking information about gout, it is important to also know about pseudo gout and the similarities and differences between these two conditions.

Similarities: pseudo-gout and gout

• Both are forms of arthritis.
• Both attack the joints.
• Both are triggered by crystals surrounding the joint.
• Both come on suddenly and are profoundly painful.
• Both cause redness, swelling, and heat.
• Attacks can last for a few days or a few weeks.
• Both occur mostly in older people
• Both are caused by a buildup of crystals around the joints.

If it seems like they have a lot in common, they do. However it is important to recognize the differences because it impacts treatment.
Differences: pseudo gout and gout

• While gout generally affects the big toe, pseudo-gout generally occurs in the knee. It can attack other joints including the ankles, hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders, but that is less common.
• The most significant difference between the two afflictions is that the crystals that form in the joint lining are different. Pseudo-gout crystals are a form of calcium, well calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals to be exact.  It is even sometimes referred to as CPPD disease.

As we age there is a tendency to some calcification around the joints in many people. By the time we reach 85, that's about 50% of people.  But only a small minority of people have symptoms and are diagnosed with CPPD, or pseudo-gout.
A better understanding of why this is will require more study. For now, some factors other than age seem to play a role a tendency to this condition:

• Trauma to a joint.  The trauma can be caused by a serious injury or by surgery, especially any form of joint replacement surgery.

• Inherited tendencies. There are two possible genetic propensities to pseudo-gout.
  
  
• 'Chondrocalcinosis.'  People with this inherited condition have a greater tendency to this form of calcium build-up and are more likely to develop signs and symptoms of CPPD crystal disease at younger ages.

• 'Hemochromatosis.' This is a tendency to store excess iron in the body's organs and tissues that surround joints. It is believed that the iron around the joints leads to development of CPPD crystals.

Diagnosis
CT scans and MRI's are used to determine whether or not a calcium-based mass exists around a joint. But regular old X-Rays (Radiography) are an excellent diagnostic tool for this.  Another option is to remove some of the surrounding fluid from the affected joint and test for the existence of CPPD crystals. Removing some synovial fluid with a syringe and checking the fluid is known as 'arthrocentesis.'

Treatment
Pseudo gout symptomatic treatment is directed toward stopping the inflammation in the joints. Options going from the least invasive include:

• Rest.
• Applying ice to the inflamed joint for short periods of time.  
• Ibuprofin or one of the other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs).
• Removing fluid containing the crystals from the joint
• Injection of cortisone into the joint to reduce inflammation
• An oral prescription for colchicines.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, it is essential to see a qualified health care professional. Accurate diagnosis is the first step in proper treatment.
Gathering information on the Internet is invaluable. By itself it is insufficient. Whether the condition is pseudogout, gout or some other form of arthritis professional support is an essential step to an improved and healthier life.