Chondrocalcinosis (gr. chondro = cartilage, lat. calcinosis = calcification) is a degenerative disease of cartilage, ligaments and tendons, which is particularly noticeable with complaints in joints.
As the term chondrocalcinosis describes, it is a calcification caused by calcium crystal deposits, especially in the cartilage of joints. This causes symptoms similar to those of gout, which is why chondrocalcinosis is also called pseudo-gout. However, there is another mechanism behind this disease, one should not confuse the two diseases. Mostly the knee, hip and hands are affected, with the knee showing symptoms most often. However, chondrocalcinosis usually proceeds without symptoms.
Causes
The causes for the development of chondrocalcinosis are not yet fully understood. It is known that certain calcium crystals are deposited in the cartilage or even ligaments and tendons, which are calcium pyrophosphate crystals. Here again the difference to gout can be seen, where deposits of urate crystals are the cause of the complaints.
The calcium pyrophosphate is deposited in the cartilage substance and leads to structural changes there. The cartilage is no longer as elastic, is degraded over time and inflammatory reactions occur in the joint. Only then do you notice symptoms.
However, the exact cause of the deposits is unknown. In chondrocalcinosis, a distinction is made between a primary and a secondary form. Primary chondrocalcinosis occurs without any apparent cause and mostly affects old people.
It progresses insidiously but chronically. Hereditary causes are also discussed. In contrast to this, the causes of secondary chondrocalcinosis are to be found in other diseases that favour the development of calcification.
Thus, the occurrence of chondrocalcinosis is associated with and discussed as causes. Genuine gout also increases the risk; malpositions or previous inflammations of the joints are also associated with chondrocalcinosis. – an overactive parathyroid gland
- An underfunction of the thyroid gland
- As well as disorders in the iron, magnesium or phosphate metabolism
Symptoms
Chondrocalcinosis usually progresses quietly without any symptoms appearing. If these do occur, however, the symptoms are typical and are observed in a similar way in gout. The knee is clearly most frequently affected, followed by finger joints and hip.
But shoulder, elbow or spine can also be affected by chondrocalcinosis. In rare cases, not only joints, but also ligaments, tendons or intervertebral discs are affected by crystal deposition. Several patterns of symptoms can be distinguished.
In the acute form, the pseudo-gout attack, there is a rapidly developing inflammation of a joint, usually in the knee. One notices a swelling and reddening over the joint, and pain develops. These symptoms occur at rest and worsen with movement, but are generally less distressing than with gout.
The symptoms appear quickly and regress after a few days. In contrast, the chronic intermittent form has longer attacks, which can last for weeks, but do not show such severe symptoms. In chronic chondrocalcinosis, there is degenerative destruction of cartilage and involved structures, the picture is similar to that of active arthrosis. Affected joints are painful and swollen, in severe cases fever is added. The rarest manifestation of chondrocalcinosis is characterized by the affection outside of joints and corresponding symptoms, e.g. the Achilles tendon or intervertebral discs are affected.
