2007 Gout and Pseudogout eMedicine Emergency

Description: Gout and pseudogout are the 2 most common crystal-induced arthropathies. They are debilitating illnesses in which pain and joint inflammation are caused by the formation of crystals within the joint space. Gout is inflammation caused by monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals.
Pseudogout is inflammation caused by calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystals and is sometimes referred to as calcium pyrophosphate disease (CPPD).
Synonyms and related keywords: calcium pyrophosphate disease, CPPD, peripheral arthritis, sodium urate crystals, monosodium urate monohydrate crystals, MSU crystals, calcium pyrophosphate crystals, CPP crystals, podagra, hyperuricemia, primary gout, secondary gout, intermediate gout, late-phase gout, pseudogout, tophi, gouty nephropathy, gouty arthritis, first metatarsophalangeal joint pain, uric acid, increased serum uric acid, arthritis nodosa, arthritis uratica, foot pain, edema of the foot, crystal-induced arthritis, joint edema, acute arthritis, lysis of polymorphonuclear white blood cells, inflammatory crystalline arthritis, acute septic arthritis, pseudogout arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthrocentesis
Joseph Kaplan, MD 2007 Updated 2010