November 19, 2015 - Chondrocalcinosis

Question 1

Types of Chondrocalcinosis

Answer 1

Type A - acute attacks of pseudogout

Type B - continuous subacute attacks

Type C - osteoarthritis with superimposed acute attacks

Type D - osteoarthritis

Type E - asymptomatic chondrocalcinosis

Type F - charcot joints

Type G - axial involvement

Question 2

Prevelence of Chondrocalcinosis

Answer 2

Increases with age.

By age 70, almost 20% of people have some chondrocalcinosis.

Affects females more often (2:1)

Question 3

Secondary Chondrocalcinosis

Answer 3

Usually caused by…

Hemochromatosis

Hyperparathyroidism

Hypothyroidism

Question 4

Commonly Affected Sites of Pseudogout

Question 5

Type B Chondrocalcinosis

Answer 5

Repeated attacks one after another.

Joints alternate getting rekt. In rheumatoid arthritis, all the joints get screwed up together, but in Type B Chondrocalcinosis, one might be affected and recover, only to have another joint messed up afterwards.

Question 6

Type D Chondrocalcinosis

Answer 6

Calcium deposits in cartilage and causes massive damage resulting in osteoarthritis.

Often affects different joints than traditional osteoarthritis. Wrist is normally not affected in osteoarthritis, but can be destroyed in Type D Chondrocalcinosis.

Question 7

Type C Chondrocalcinosis

Answer 7

Osteoarthritis with superimposed acute attacks.

Question 8

Type F Chondrocalcinosis

Answer 8

Charcot joints.

Extreme osteoarthritis. Damged so badly it defies description. The presence of calcium in the cartilage is what causes this tremendous destruction.

Question 9

Mechanism of Acute Attack

Answer 9

Calcium deposits calcium pyrophosphate crystals in the cartilage around the lacunae.

Calcium invades in and kills the chondrocytes so the cartilage will die.

This results in a loss of cartilage and causes damage and pain.