Calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition disease: diagnosis and treatment

Introduction

Calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystal deposits in articular tissues (mainly fibrocartilage and hyaline cartilage) and in periarticular soft tissues.^1,2 Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease (CPPD) may be asymptomatic or be associated with several clinical syndromes including both, acute and chronic inflammatory arthritis.³ The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) has suggested changes in CPPD terminology.²

According to the EULAR suggestions for CPPD terminology, CPPD has been proposed as the key term to include several disease phenotypes that include: the asymptomatic CPPD; the acute CPP crystal arthritis (previously known as pseudogout); osteoarthritis (OA) with CPPD (previously, pseudo-OA); and the chronic CPP crystal inflammatory arthritis (previously, pseudorheumatoid arthritis).² In the same way, chondrocalcinosis (CC) has been proposed as the calcification of the cartilage identified by imaging or histological means. Although CC is most commonly due to CPP crystals, it is not exclusive of this disease and could appear as a casual finding or coexist with structural changes that resemble OA.²

In clinical practice, this disease may present as several phenotypes. In the asymptomatic CPPD, CC is a common finding in radiographic studies performed for any other reason, but it produces no symptoms.³ Acute CPP crystal arthritis should be suspected in a patient >65 years old. It presents typically as an acute monoarticular or oligoarticular arthritis,⁴ although migratory or additive arthritis and polyarticular and bilateral arthritis can also be a form of presentation. Large joints are frequently involved (knees, wrists, ankles), but it can affect any other joint. It has an abrupt onset and is characterized by pain, warmth, swelling, and – in some occasions – periarticular erythema.⁵

It is self-limiting and typically last 7–10 days. Attacks are typically triggered by intercurrent medical or surgical conditions between other factors. Generally, patients are asymptomatic between acute episodes. Attacks can affect the same joint or a different one in each episode. In some occasions, CPP crystal arthritis can present as an acute monoarthritis that affects a large joint and produces systemic symptoms such as fever, chills, and malaise; thus, septic arthritis must be always ruled out.^4,5 Despite differences in joint involvement patterns between gout and CPP crystal arthritis, nowadays definite diagnosis relies upon the demonstration of the specific crystal in the synovial fluid (SF) of the inflamed joint.^1,4

Chronic CPP crystal inflammatory arthritis may present as a chronic, bilateral, symmetrical, and deforming inflammatory polyarthritis.¹ It frequently affects wrists and metacarpophalangeal joints, although tendon sheaths can also be affected.³ It may produce wrist tenosynovitis manifested as carpal tunnel syndrome and/or cubital tunnel syndrome. Radiographic findings are characterized by CC, subchondral sclerosis, epiphyseal geodes, osteophytes, but with no marginal erosions.⁴

Differentiating chronic CPP crystal arthritis from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can be challenging based upon clinical signs and symptoms; however, radiographic studies may help in this regard. Although CC is not exclusive of CPPD, it is not a common finding in RA; besides, the other radiographic signs mentioned for chronic CPP crystal arthritis may direct to a microcrystalline arthritis diagnosis. In other cases, when proximal joints of limbs are affected, it may be confused with rheumatic polymyalgia as well.^1,4,5 A typical presentation – OA with CPPD — generally affects knees, has an atypical distribution (radiocarpal, glenohumeral, hindfoot, or midfoot involvement) and may be associated with more inflammatory signs and symptoms.^4,5

At this point, an accurate diagnosis could be achieved on the basis of the clinical picture supported by several techniques. It is important to recognize the disease’s subtypes, because treatment is not the same for all cases. So, this review summarizes what we know so far about diagnosis and management in CPPD.

Diagnosis

SF

Until a few years ago, CPPD diagnosis was based upon at least one of the following two conditions: 1) the demonstration of CPP crystals in SF or tissue by definitive methods, such as X-ray diffraction powder pattern, chemical analysis, or atomic force microscopy; and 2) by the identification of the CPP crystals in SF or tissue by compensated polarized light microscopy and the presence of CC on X-ray examination.^1,4–6

Swan et al⁷ analyzed five studies, including a total of 35 laboratories, to assess the value of SF in the diagnosis of CPPD. They found that the identification of CPP crystals was worse than for monosodium urate monohydrate. A great variability between laboratories and readers in the identification of CPP crystals was disclosed. The authors concluded that further investigations were necessary to assess the real diagnostic value of the SF assay.⁷

Lumbreras et al⁸ assessed the reliability of CPP crystal identification. Trainees with no experience in crystal identification, after a 3-month course, blindly and independently examined SF samples that had been previously classified by an expert. They found that sensitivity and specificity for crystal detection (presence or absence of crystals) were 95.9% and 86.5%, respectively. In the same way, sensitivity and specificity for CPP crystal identification were 92.7% and 92.1%; trained observer reliability was very high.⁸

Nowadays, the identification of CPP crystals in SF by light microscopy, compensated polarized light microscopy, or phase contrast microscopy has become the reference standard for CPPD diagnosis.² CPP crystals have characteristically a parallelepipedic form and are predominantly intracellular with absent or weak positive birefringence^1–4 (Figure 1).

Figure 1 CPP crystal in SF. Notes: (A) Parallelepipedic CPP crystals in SF by light microscopy. (B) CPP crystal by phase contrast microscopy. (C) CPP crystal showing weakly positive birefringence in compensated polarized light microscopy. All images had a 400× increase. Abbreviations: CPP, calcium pyrophosphate; SF, synovial fluid.

X-ray

Finding CC by radiographic means strengthens a CPPD diagnosis, but its absence does not rule it out.² It is not infrequent to have positive detection of CPP crystals in SF analysis in patients with a negative X-ray.^9–11 CPP crystal deposits in the fibrocartilage of the joints (most commonly in the menisci of the knee, triangular fibrocartilage of the wrists, labra of the acetabulum, symphysis pubis, and annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disks).¹² Calcification of hyaline cartilage occurs mainly in the wrist, knee, elbow, and hip.¹² Synovial calcification is almost always seen in knee, metacarpophalangeal, metatarsophalangeal joints, radiocarpal, and distal radioulnar joints of the wrists.¹³ Tendon calcifications are frequently seen in the quadriceps, triceps, and Achilles tendon¹⁴ (Figure 2).

Figure 2 Radiographic CC. Notes: (A) Plain film X-ray demonstrating CC involving the menisci (white arrow). (B) Disc of the triangular fibrocartilage complex of the wrist (white arrow). (C) Supraspinatus tendon calcification of the humerus (white arrows). Abbreviation: CC, chondocalcinosis.

Abhishek et al¹⁵ demonstrated that almost 40% of individuals with CC do not present with CPP calcific radiographic findings on knees, despite being the most common site of CPPD involvement. They found that only 80% of these individuals with CC could be identified if the radiographs of knees and pelvis or knees and wrists/hands were performed.¹⁵ For that reason, a group of experts recommended assessing those sites to achieve an accurate diagnosis of radiographic CC.^15,16

Ultrasonography (US)

According to EULAR recommendations, US can demonstrate CPP crystals in peripheral joints, appearing typically as thin hyperechoic bands within hyaline cartilage and hyperechoic sparkling spots in fibrocartilage² (Figure 3). An Italian expert group performed a case-control study to assess the utility of US in the diagnosis of CPPD.¹⁷ They found that CPP crystals were present in SF of all patients with CPP deposits defined by US. In only two patients, X-ray examinations not confirm the calcific deposits previously identified by US. The authors concluded that US patterns used in the study (as mentioned earlier in this paragraph) had a very high correlation with the presence of CPP crystals in SF and suggested that US may have at least an equal sensitivity and specificity to that of X-ray plain film in identifying CPP crystal calcifications.¹⁷ Moreover, a longitudinal study enrolled patients with ultrasonographic signs of CC, according to previously proposed criteria and performed SF analysis and compared them with controls. Of the 14 patients classified as CC by US, 13 presented with CPP crystals in SF; whereas, only two of the 29 patients in the control group had CPP crystals after SF analysis. The authors concluded that US had a high specificity (96.4%) and good sensitivity (86.7%) for the diagnosis of CC, considering that CPP crystals could also be found in SF, even when the characteristic calcifications are not found in joint tissues by traditional radiology (sensitivity of 86.7%).¹⁸

Figure 3 US findings of CPP crystals. Notes: (A) US longitudinal scan demonstrates a hyperechoic band (white arrow) within hyaline cartilage of knee. (B) US transversal scan showing thin hyperechoic band within middle layer of hyaline cartilage of knee (white arrow). (C) US longitudinal scan of lateral dorsum of wrist that demonstrates hyperechoic band of carpal triangular ligament (white arrow). Abbreviations: CPP, calcium pyrophosphate; US, ultrasonography; cf, femoral condyle; r, patella.

Computed tomography

CPPD may only affect the spine, but its involvement is often asymptomatic.¹⁹ CPP crystals may deposit in the transverse ligaments of the atlas and in the alar ligaments, producing the so-called “crowned dens syndrome”, which includes calcifications of all odontoid articular structures.^20,21 In crowned dens syndrome, computed tomography is the gold standard imaging modality that allows identification of the different radiographic patterns of the disease: simple band of calcification or double band of thin calcifications in the transverse ligament; irregular calcifications crowning the dens apex; and bone erosions of the dens itself.^22,23

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

There is not enough evidence to support the use of MRI in the evaluation of patients with suspected CPPD.¹⁴ Therefore, plain X-ray film has shown greater sensitivity than MRI in the diagnosis of CPP arthropathy of the knee.²⁴ CPP crystals may be deposited in both ligamentum flavum and posterior longitudinal ligament, leading to myelopathy, cord compression, and spinal stenosis.^20,21 Thus, MRI may play a role in assessing rare complications of CPPD.^14,25

Management

Optimal treatment requires both nonpharmacological and pharmacological therapies, according to clinical features and risks factors.²⁶ Asymptomatic CPPD needs no treatment.⁴ Moreover, in other disease phenotypes, proper treatment should include prompt resolution of the acute synovitis, reduction of chronic joint damage, and management of associated conditions.⁵ Unfortunately, most treatment approaches are based upon clinical experience and not upon controlled trials.²⁶

In acute attacks, therapeutic modalities used in gout are often required; however, evidence to support them in acute CPP crystal arthritis has yet to be systematically evaluated.²⁷ In these cases, duration of attacks may be limited with cool packs, temporary rest, and joint aspiration combined with intra-articular long-acting glucocorticosteroids (GCS) injection.^6,28 NSAIDs and low-dose oral colchicine (COL) are effective treatments but limited by toxicity and comorbidity, especially in older patients. A short course of oral or parenteral GCS may be effective for those patients in whom an intra-articular GCS injection or the use of NSAIDs and COL is not recommended.²⁸

For the prophylaxis of recurrent acute CPP crystal arthritis, low-dose oral NSAIDs or low-dose oral COL 0.5–1.0 mg daily may be used.⁶

Patients with chronic CPP crystal inflammatory arthritis sometimes require a continuous therapy; NSAIDS, COL, and low-dose oral GCS are frequently used with generally good results. However, occasionally these interventions are ineffective, contraindicated, or not well-tolerated and, for those situations, methotrexate (MTX) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) have shown to be good options (Table 1).^6,28

Table 1 CPPD management Abbreviations: CPP, calcium pyrophosphate; CPPD, CPP deposition disease; GCS, glucocorticosteroids; ACTH, adrenocorticotrophic hormone; OA, osteoarthritis; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; COL, colchicine; MTX, methotrexate; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; ANK, anakinra.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

The efficacy of these drugs in the treatment of CPPD has not been systematically evaluated. Furthermore, most of the information concerning this topic has been extrapolated from gouty arthritis studies.^28,29 Although NSAIDs have not been critically compared and their choice remains empirical, all of these drugs seem to be effective. Furthermore, it has been recommended that full doses of selected drugs should be used as soon as possible. If a NSAID would pose an elevated risk to an individual (usually older patients) because of potential side effects, an alternative drug should be used.²⁹

GCS

GCS are widely used in CPPD. One of the reasons is that CPPD arthritis predominates in older patients in whom the use of NSAIDs and COL is frequently contraindicated. Intra-articular GCS can be particularly useful in the treatment of acute monoarticular or oligoarticular episodes. A GCS, even if injected in small doses, is generally effective.^28,29 Although infrequent, acute CPP crystal arthritis may coincide with septic arthritis. This possibility must be kept in mind, and GCS should not be used until infection has been ruled out.³⁰

Oral and parenteral GCS preparations and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) are useful alternatives for polyarticular cases in which a prompt response is needed or when COL and/or NSAIDs are contraindicated.^30–32

A small noncontrolled trial that enrolled 27 patients with acute CPP crystal arthritis compared the efficacy of intramuscular betamethasone (7 mg), intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone (125 mg), and oral diclofenac 150 mg per day during 3 days and then 3 extra days using one-half of the initial dose. They concluded that GCS may be more effective at gaining quick control of severe pain than NSAIDs. Few relapses were noted for all regimens, but there were no differences between IV and intramuscular GCS injections.³⁰

Another uncontrolled trial described the results of 14 CPPD patients (12 of them were contraindicated to NSAIDs) receiving one or two intramuscular injections of triamcinolone acetonide. All of them had at least 50% clinical improvement on visual analogue scale (VAS) within 14 days, without considerable side effects. In most patients, major clinical improvement occurred on the third and fourth day after the injection; however, a second injection was needed in six patients to control symptoms.³¹

Parenteral ACTH was used in a retrospective cohort study that included 38 patients with acute crystal arthritis (only five patients with CPPD). The indication for using ACTH included congestive heart failure, renal insufficiency, gastrointestinal bleeding, or resistance to NSAIDs. A total of 43 acute attacks were treated with IV ACTH, 40 or 80 units; all resolved within 4 days. Cases of mild hypokalemia, hyperglycemia, fluid retention, and rebound arthritis were reported and easily controlled.³²

No data for low-dose GCS has been found as a treatment for chronic CPPD arthritis, and the EULAR recommendation about this is just supported by expert opinion.²⁸ The use of different oral regimes of GCS in this disease has not been compared.^30,31 We use prednisone 30 mg/day with progressive dose reduction within a few days, according to clinical response; to avoid a rebound attack after the discontinuation of GCS, we start concomitantly COL at low doses.

Intra-articular dexamethasone stimulates CPP crystal formation by chondrocytes suggesting a potential detrimental effect of intra-articular GCS injections on articular cartilage.³³ However, we would not recommend removing GCS from the already limited therapeutic armamentarium for CPPD.

COL

Although COL is one of the oldest drugs currently available, its mechanism of action, surprisingly, is not yet completely understood.³⁴ The complex actions of this substance were initially thought to be mainly attributable to its stabilizing action on the cytoskeleton and cell membranes.^35,36 Apart from that, COL also inhibits the neutrophil’s motility and activity, leading to an anti-inflammatory effect.

Trial evidence supports its efficacy in acute CPP crystal arthritis and in preventing CPPD recurring attacks.³⁷ As in acute gout, COL is most likely to be effective if treatment is started within 12–24 hours of symptom onset. The earlier the treatment is started – preferably within a few hours after the beginning of the attack – the more rapid and complete resolution of symptoms occurs. The duration of therapy for the acute episode may range from just a few days to several weeks, depending on how early or how late COL has been introduced in the treatment.^36,37 In our experience, incipient CPP crystal attacks can be aborted with oral COL taken at the onset of symptoms (“pills in the pocket”). On the other hand, if other options are not contraindicated, we usually avoid the use of COL for acute CPP crystal arthritis that has been ongoing for more than 3–4 days because of the diminished likelihood of benefit.

In acute attacks, we prefer to start with smaller doses than those historically used. Such an approach in acute gout has been demonstrated to induce less diarrhea and abdominal cramping.^35,36 It was customary to administer COL in the following manner: 1) 0.5 mg every hour; or 2) 1 mg every 2 hours until the pain was relieved, or the gastrointestinal symptoms supervened. With such high doses, the incidence of marked side effects was almost 100%.^37–39 We prefer to use an alternative low-dose COL regimen that is 0.6 mg (or 0.5 mg available in other countries other than the US) three times per day on the first days of treatment. In most patients, the effect of this oral therapy is dramatic; joint symptoms usually begin to subside in 12–24 hours, and the attack has abated, if treated early, in 72 hours, with fewer toxic effects.

The IV administration of COL is avoided, due to the risk of severe pancytopenia and death – although one uncontrolled hospital case series showed the efficacy of IV COL in seven patients with acute attacks.⁴⁰

The effectiveness of COL as a prophylactic agent in recurring CPP crystal arthritis was shown in a study³⁹ in which 10 patients with recurrent arthritis attacks were started on this drug (oral COL 0.6 mg, two times daily) and followed for 1 year after receiving the therapy. Acute episodes of arthritis were diminished from 3.2 patients/year to one patient/year (90% of the patients benefitted from COL use).³⁹

HCQ

In a prospective 6-month, double-blinded trial, HCQ was suggested to be of some benefit in chronic CPP crystal inflammatory arthritis. In addition, 36 patients were investigated. The number needed to treat for clinical response was 2 (95% confidence interval 1–7). Clinical response rate was defined as the percentage of patients with more than 30% reduction of tender and swollen joints. There were no significant side effects.⁴¹

MTX

MTX could be considered as an alternative therapeutic option for patients with severe CPPD who failed to respond to standard therapy.²⁸ It works not only as an immunosuppressant but also as a potent anti-inflammatory agent.

In a study that included five patients treated with low dosages of MTX (5–20 mg/week), all patients reported an excellent clinical response, with marked improvement within a mean period of 7.4 weeks. The frequency of CPP crystal arthritis attacks, pain intensity, the number of swollen and tender joints, and inflammatory biomarkers were all improved after the initiation of MTX therapy. No significant side effects were reported.⁴²

In another observational study in which ten patients were included, the authors concluded that MTX could be an effective and safe option for patients with refractory CPPD arthritis. Also, five patients presented with a persistent polyarthritis, while three presented with a persistent oligoarthritis, and two presented with a relapsing monoarthritis. Median MTX evaluation by patients on a visual analog scale was 7.4; physicians considered the response to the drug: excellent (n=2); good (n=5); or medium (n=3).⁴³

Anakinra (ANK)

Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) plays a central role in crystal-induced inflammation. At this respect, pyrophosphate crystals act via the NALP3 inflammasome to convert prointerleukin-1 into IL-1.⁴⁴

Traditional anti-inflammatory agents may act on the IL-1β pathway at some level; however, their mechanisms of action are broad-ranging, unspecific, and biologically complex. This lack of specificity may explain the range of systemic adverse effects associated with them.⁴⁵ The therapeutic margins of NSAIDs, COL, and GCS are particularly low in elderly patients and in patients with cardiovascular, metabolic, or renal comorbidities. Concerning this, IL-1β antagonists target an early event immediately downstream from NALP3 inflammasome activation, thus reducing systemic adverse events and providing an effective alternative treatment compared to traditional agents.^45–48

ANK blocks the biologic activity of IL-1 alpha and beta by competitively inhibiting IL-1 binding to the IL-1 type I receptor (IL-1RI), which is expressed in a wide variety of tissues and organs.⁴⁵

A case of a 71-year-old man with recurrent CPP crystal arthritis and end-stage renal failure that contraindicated treatment with COL or NSAIDs and resistant to GCS therapy was reported to respond to this therapy after a follow-up of 8 months. ANK was administered as preventive therapy 3 days per week after each hemodialysis session.⁴⁶

A recurrent knee oligoarthritis with short effect response to GCS was treated with ANK showing a rapid improvement (within 1 week) of inflammation. However, patients were unable to withdrawal from treatment in the long term, due to recurrent attacks.⁴⁷

Magnesium (MG)

In vitro studies have shown that MG can solubilize CPP crystals and has inhibitory effects on the nucleation and growth of these crystals.⁴⁹ The possibility that MG supplementation might influence CPP crystals in vivo is suggested by the reduction of acute CPP crystal arthritis after lavage of joints with MG sulphate⁵⁰ and by a possible reported benefit of MG replacement treatment in a patient with hypomagnesaemia and CC.⁵¹ One small double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT was undertaken in 38 patients with symptomatic knee OA with CPPD. Despite a pronounced placebo effect in controls, the treatment showed a uniform trend toward improvement in pain, stiffness, joint line tenderness, effusion (knee), and overall subjective and objective assessment. There was no reduction in radiographic CC in those receiving magnesium compared with those given placebo.⁵²

Radiosynovectomy

In one small double-blinded study, 15 patients with bilateral, symmetrical, CPPD arthropathy of the knees were given intra-articular injections of yttrium-90 (5 mCi) plus steroid (triamcinolone hexacetonide, 20 mg) into one knee, and saline plus steroid into the other knee (control). After 6 months, there was significantly less pain, inactivity stiffness, joint-line tenderness, and effusion in the 90Y-injected knees than in the controls. There were also significant differences in the range of movement and joint circumference caused partly by progression of disease in the control knees. In all cases, patient and observer assessment favored the treated knee.⁵³

According to EULAR recommendations, this therapy should be considered in older patients with CPPD arthropathy and recurrent hemarthrosis affecting the shoulder, though in the absence of any supporting trial.²⁸

Hyaluronan

An amelioration of pain and range of movement was observed after the injection of 2 mL of sodium hyaluronate (HYALGAN^®, Fidia Farmaceutici SpA, Abano Terme, Italy) once a week during 4 weeks in patients where the treatment with NSAIDs and SF drainage was ineffective. No adverse events were observed after the injections in those patients.⁵⁴ Similar results were obtained by other authors in patients with radiologic CC with knee OA;^55,56 however, in some cases, the development of acute synovitis has been described after hyaluronic acid injections,⁵⁷ this therapy is recommended in the American College of Rheumatology guidelines for OA treatment.⁵⁸

Others

High inorganic pyrophosphate levels appear central to CPP crystal formation. There is considerable interest, but no relevant data, on the possibility of using pharmacological agents, such as probenecid, polyphosphates, and phosphocitrate to modulate pyrophosphate levels and to influence CPP crystal formation and dissolution.^59–61 At present, this remains only a theoretical possibility that needs to be further confirmed.

In CPPD, there is an excess of extracellular inorganic pyrophosphate elaboration by chondrocytes. Transforming growth factor beta-1 is their main stimulant. Probenecid blocks transforming growth factor beta-1 induced pyrophosphate synthesis, suggesting a potential role to counteract this aberrant metabolism.⁵⁹

Linear polyphosphates are effective in dissolving both synthetic and ex vivo CPP crystal aggregates.⁶⁰ This suggests a potential therapeutic use for these molecules in the treatment of symptomatic CC.

It has been proposed that the binding of phosphocitrate to specific faces of CPP crystals induces morphological changes that may lead to diminished crystal growth or its total cessation.⁶¹

Treatment for concurrent OA

Calcium-containing crystals are quite common in primary OA and may worsen it through the induction of inflammation by neutrophils. COL inhibits monosodium urate monohydrate crystal- and CPP crystal-induced inflammation. Hence, it was hypothesized that COL may have symptom-modifying effects on OA. The efficacy and safety of COL for pain reduction in OA was confirmed by a double-blind randomized controlled trial where 61 postmenopausal patients with primary knee OA were enrolled. Interestingly, none of them had evidence of CC in radiographic studies. Improvement rate at the end of 3 months was significantly higher in the COL group for both the patient’s global assessment and the physician’s global assessment measures compared to placebo group.⁶²

Another study was performed to evaluate the symptomatic benefit of the addition of COL to a regimen of intra-articular GCS. Thirty-nine patients with knee OA with persisting synovitis despite 2 weeks of piroxicam were subjected to intra-articular steroid injection and randomly assigned to receive COL 0.5 mg twice daily or placebo. The authors found that the addition of COL produced significantly greater symptomatic benefit at the 16th and 20th weeks in patients with knee OA with inflammation.⁶³

Concurrence of OA with CPPD might be associated with an increased inflammatory component and a different prognosis with respect to rate of clinical and radiographic progression,^64–66 but the repertoire of treatments remains basically the same as that for OA.²⁸ Future research agenda should analyze a possible disease-modifying effect of COL in concurrent OA with an inflammatory component due to CPPD arthritis.

Treatment of comorbidities

Therapy is symptom-oriented or disease-specific in the case of an underlying metabolic disease, such as hemochromatosis, hyperparathyroidism, hypophosphatasia, hypomagnesaemia, or hypothyroidism.²⁸

If a disease associated with CPPD is present, specific therapy for the underlying disease should be initiated – even though this measure does not reverse crystal deposition. A case of reduced meniscal calcification was reported to happen over a 10-year course of oral magnesium administration in a patient with CPPD arthropathy and hypomagnesemia.⁶⁶

Most patients continue to develop new calcifications despite successful treatment of the associated metabolic disorder.^67–70 The case of hyperparathyroidism shows this fact. Patients with CPPD are three times more likely to have primary hyperparathyroidism than patients without CPPD (odds ratio =3.03; 95% confidence interval 1.15–8.02).² Conversely, patients with primary hyperparathyroidism may have an increased risk of acute attacks of CPPD arthritis.^71,72 In such a predisposing condition, treatment is obviously required, though whether treatment of such comorbidity affects the outcome of CPPD-associated arthritis is unclear. In a retrospective study of 57 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and an overall incidence of CC of 40%, neither joint symptoms nor radiological CC regressed after surgery.⁷¹ These data have been also reported in another series of 41 patients in which parathyroidectomy had no effect on arthritis attacks or on preexisting cartilage calcification.⁷²

Since a drug that can prevent the aberrant inorganic pyrophosphate metabolism does not exist, in these cases treatment is primarily symptomatic.

Conclusion

CPPD diagnosis is based on the identification of CPP crystals in microscopy. Treatment approaches are based upon clinical experience and are, in most cases, extrapolated from gouty arthritis. If CPPD is associated with an underlying disease, specific therapy should be started.

Acknowledgments

Photographs in Figure 3 are courtesy of the Image Bank of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology; with permission from Dra. Esperanza Naredo (A) and Eugenio de Miguel (B, C).

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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