Pseudogout Flashcards
1
Q
Clinical Features
Who tends to be affected?
A
hot, swollen, stiff, painful knee
Other joints that are commonly affected are the shoulders, wrists and hips
Who tends to be affected:
- Women
- Hypothyroidism
2
Q
Diagnosis
A
To establish a definitive diagnosis the joint needs to be aspirated for synovial fluid.
Aspirated fluid will show:
- No bacterial growth
- Calcium pyrophosphate crystals
- Rhomboid shaped crystals
- Positive birefringent of polarised light
Chondrocalcinosis is the classic xray change in pseudogout. It appears as a thin white line in the middle of the joint space caused by the calcium deposition.
3
Q
Management
A
Symptoms usually resolve spontaneously over several weeks. Symptomatic management involves:
- NSAIDs
- Colchicine
- Joint aspiration
- Steroid injections
- Oral steroids
- Joint washout (arthrocentesis) is an option in severe cases.
4
Q
Associations
A
Haemochromatosis
