Rheumatoid arthritis and pseudo-rheumatoid arthritis in calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease.

Authors:
  • DRD Resnick
    D Resnick
  • GWG Williams
    G Williams
  • MWM H Weisman
    M H Weisman
  • LSL Slaughter
    L Slaughter
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition disease can lead to many clinical syndromes. One syndrome simulates rheumatoid arthritis and is thus called "pseudo-rheumatoid arthritis." Since some patients have true rheumatoid arthritis with CPPD crystal deposition disease, the clinician may have difficulty differentiating those patients from others who have the pseudo-rheumatoid syndrome. Such a diagnostic problem can be solved radiographically. Eleven patients with CPPD crystal deposition disease were studied; five had true rheumatoid arthritis and six had pseudo-rheumatoid arthritis. Because osseous erosions were not apparent in the arthropathy of uncomplicated CPPD crystal deposition disease, the detection of skeletal erosive changes indicated a true rheumatoid arthritis process.