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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffPseudogout (SOO-doe-gout) is a form of arthritis characterized by sudden, painful swelling in one or more of your joints. These episodes can last for days or weeks. Pseudogout typically occurs in older adults and most commonly affects the knee.
Also called calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease, pseudogout gets its common name from its similarity to gout. Pseudogout and gout both occur when crystals — one type in gout, another type in pseudogout — form in the fluid that lubricates joint linings, causing pain and inflammation. Besides affecting the knees, pseudogout may develop in the ankles, wrists and elbows, while gout tends to affect the big toe.
It isn't clear why crystals form in your joints and cause pseudogout. Although you can't get rid of the crystals, there are treatments to help you relieve the pain and reduce the inflammation of pseudogout.
- Pseudogout. American College of Rheumatology. http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/diseases_and_conditions/pseudogout.asp. Accessed Feb. 15, 2010.
- Mercier LR. Pseudogout. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009: 380. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/182089558-3/949024313/2088/537.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00025-3--sc0320_11038. Accessed Feb. 15, 2010.
- Gravel JG, et al. Rheumatic diseases. In: Rakel RE. Rakel: Textbook of Family Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/182089558-3/949024313/1481/505.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2467-5..50045-2--cesec51_2681. Accessed Feb. 15, 2010.
- Becker MA. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 15, 2010.
- Becker MA. Pathogenesis and etiology of calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 15, 2010.
- Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease (CPPD) (pseudo gout). The Arthritis Foundation. http://www.arthritis.org/disease-center.php?disease_id=7&df=treatments. Accessed Feb. 15, 2010.
- Richette P, et al. An update on the epidemiology of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease. Rheumatology. 2009;48:711.
- Chang-Miller A (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 23, 2010.
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