The Symptoms of Pseudogout

Pseudogout is known as the calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease. Pseudogout is often confused with the symptoms of the gout because many of the symptoms of the pseudogout are similar to the symptoms of the gout. However, as the name suggests both the disease are different.

Pseudogout is caused by the accumulation of the calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals in the fluids of the joints and in the cartilage. The calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals cause the critical attack of inflammation and painful manifestation. The common symptoms of the pseudogout are painful and stiff skin, tenderness of the skin, swollen skin, redness and warmness felt on the affected areas. The pain can develop in other joint areas like the ankles, toes, knuckles, hips, elbows or even shoulders. If you are familiar with the symptoms of the gout then you can see the symptoms are quite similar to the symptoms of the gout. But the symptoms have similarities to the other types of arthritis like the osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

So, the most common types of symptoms of the pseudogout are intense and acute intolerable pain of the joints, red or purplish skin over the joint, the warm feeling when the joint and affected areas are touched. There can be the soreness surrounding the areas of the joints and the patient can feel intense pain even if there is a slightest of touch.

The symptoms of the pseud gout may be similar to that of the gout but their causes are very different. Gout is caused by the high level of uric acid crystals build up in the joints areas but the pseudo gout is caused by the accumulation of the calcium pyrophosphate or CPP crystals in the cartilage areas. The crystals deposit in the joint areas and that causes the pseudogout attack.

Since the symptoms of the pseudogouts can be confused or mistaken with the other types of diseases, it is important to diagnose the disease properly. Sometimes blood test is done to diagnose the disease. But blood test is not sufficient to diagnose the disorder properly. The doctor must test the joint fluid from the affected joint to be sure about the disease. The fluid will show the amount of calcium pyrophosphate crystals present under a microscope.

The treatment of the pseudogout is similar to the treatment of the gout. The exception will be in the medication that is offered in the gout for lowering the level of uric acid in the blood. Proper treatment can ensure the relief from the pain within 24 hours in case of the pseudogout. Proper treatment and proper medication should target the prevention of the recurrence of the attack.