What is Pseudogout?

Pseudogout is a form of arthritis that makes your joints suddenly sore and swell. Any joint in your body can be a victim of pseudogout, but it is most often diagnosed in the following joints:

Knees.
Hands and wrists.
Shoulders.
Hips and pelvis.
Elbows.
Ankles .

Healthcare professionals also refer to pseudogout by some of these other names, including:

Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD).
Calcium pyrophosphate arthritis.
Chondrocalcinosis.
Each of these names refers to the same disease.

What is the difference between pseudogout vs gout?

It is called pseudogout because it is so similar to gout, another type of arthritis that causes symptoms. The prefix "pseudo" means false, so pseudogout is "false" gout.

Gout happens when there are too many uric acid crystals in your blood (hyperuricemia), causing the crystals to clump together in your joints and cause inflammation.

Pseudogout is caused by a deposit of another form of crystal in your joints. So that's why calcium pyrophosphate deposition is actually another word for pseudogout. Deposition means something is being deposited.

Gout is usually at the MTP joint where your big toe joins to your foot. Pseudogout is less likely to occur at the MTP joint and is much more likely to involve other, larger joints.

Pseudogout symptoms are as follows:

The most common symptoms of pseudogout are:

Rapidly developing, severe joint pain.
Redness or discoloration of the skin.
Swelling.
Stiffness.
Warmth or a feeling of heat around or in a joint.

Pseudogout symptoms come and go (recur) in episodes called flares or attacks. Pseudogout attacks can come on very rapidly. You will likely experience all of your symptoms coming on at once rather than gradually worsening over days or weeks. A flare of pseudogout symptoms can last from several days to a few weeks (or even longer).

What causes pseudogout?

Pseudogout results from the formation of calcium pyrophosphate within your involved joints. The excess CPP creates minute crystals that gather in the cartilage and the fluid-rich synovial membranes that envelop your joints. The CPP crystals clump together within your joints and precipitate a pseudogout flare.

Scientists are not aware of what causes extra CPP in the body. A number of studies have proven that it may be hereditary, and consequently, the risk of developing pseudogout goes to biological children. Some people develop pseudogout after trauma or injury damages a joint. Experts believe that certain metabolic or endocrine conditions can cause pseudogout.

What are the risk factors for pseudogout?

Pseudogout may affect anyone, but it often develops among older people than 65. Certain health conditions can increase your risk for developing pseudogout, and these include:

Hypomagnesemia
Hyperparathyroidism
Thyroid disease
Hemochromatosis or iron overload
Hypophosphatasia
Osteopenia
Chronic kidney disease or CKD
People with other diseases of the arthritis cases may likely develop the pseudogout, too. The types are as follows:
Gout
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Post-traumatic arthritis

How are pseudogout diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will make a diagnosis of pseudogout using a physical exam and some tests. Your provider will check your joints and ask about your symptoms. Tell your provider:

When you first started noticing symptoms.
Do your symptoms seem to come and go?

Are there activities or certain times of day that worsen (or improve) your symptoms?

A joint aspiration confirms that you have CPP crystals in your joint fluid: The provider may test you for extra CPP crystals in your joint fluid. They place a needle into your joint, withdraw some fluid, and then send the sample to the lab for examination. The lab technician views the sample of your joint fluid for CPP crystals by using a microscope. Finding extra CPP crystals in your joint fluid following an aspiration usually confirms pseudogout best.

If you have more severe symptoms at that joint, the aspiration may be very painful. Your doctor can give you numbing medication to reduce the pain.

Your doctor can also use imaging tests to look for chondrocalcinosis- evidence of CPP deposits. Your doctor can take pictures of your joints and the tissue surrounding them by using:

X-rays.
CT scan, or computed tomography scan.
MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.
Ultrasound.

How are complications of pseudogout?

More frequent and severe flares of untreated pseudogout often occur. Some people with pseudogout develop headaches or neck pain. CPP crystals deposits may collect around the dense bone in your upper neck, causing this.

What is the best therapy for pseudogout?

Your doctor will recommend treatments to help control symptoms you are having and may help limit how often you may have a pseudogout attack. The most common are medicines, including:

NSAIDs: The pain medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen can be very helpful in reducing pain and inflammation. Not everyone can safely take NSAIDs - especially people who have certain medical conditions. Ask your provider before taking NSAIDs and before taking them for more than 10 days consecutively.
Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids are a type of anti-inflammatory prescription medicine. Your doctor may provide you with pills that you take orally or inject you with a cortisone injection right into your joint affected by the issue.
Colchicine is a prescription medication used to reduce inflammation and pain. It's most effective when administered within 24 hours of the onset of a pseudogout attack. Your provider may suggest you take a low dose daily over an extended period of time to prevent future flare-ups.
Biologic injections: You may be prescribed injections of anakinra or canakinumab to prevent pseudogout attacks. These medications, like colchicine, are prescription only. Anakinra and canakinumab were FDA-approved to treat other types of arthritis but not specifically for the treatment of pseudogout. Therefore, you should call your insurance company before you get them. They may be more expensive than any other treatment.

Can I prevent pseudogout?

For now, there is no known way to prevent pseudogout. But researchers are working to determine precisely what leads your body to overproduce the extra CPP that triggers it.

Controlling other medical conditions you may have can decrease the frequency of your symptom flares.

Some people more readily experience symptoms than others. You didn't do anything wrong or unhealthy if you had a pseudogout attack. It doesn't often have causes (triggers) you can change or avoid directly.

What will happen to someone who has pseudogout?

You should expect bouts of symptoms that flare up and then subside. You will experience more frequent bouts if you are not treated by a health care professional for pseudogout.

Even though you are managing pseudogout, most people experience more bouts as they age.

Living With

How often should I see my healthcare provider?

Contact your doctor if you develop sudden, severe pain in any of your joints, swollen joints, or red or discolored skin. Pseudogout often appears identical to gout. Infections and other conditions that must be treated right away may also look like pseudogout.

Discuss your symptoms with your doctor if your attacks of pseudogout are more frequent or if they seem to be worsening over time.

Why Choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Pseudogout Treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers advanced Pseudogout treatment in Lucknow, India, at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced rheumatologists and orthopedic specialists who provide accurate diagnosis with advanced imaging and joint fluid analysis, personalized medical care, and both medication and joint-based treatment options. Our Rheumatology and Joint Care team has decades of experience in successfully treating Pseudogout in Lucknow, India.