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Hepatology 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

London Health Sciences Centre University Hospital, 339 Windermere Rd, London, Ontario, Canada.

An 18 year old man presented with bilateral knee pains. He had first developed symptoms at age 15 in 1991. Physical examination in 1995 by a senior rheumatology consultant showed patellofemoral crepitus and pain on movement of the patellae over the femur with slight loss of flexion. Read More

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2018 Nov 26. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Polytechnic University of Marche, Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences.

Objectives: To preliminarily explore the diagnostic potential of ultrasound (US) in detecting calcium pyrophosphate crystal (CPP) deposits at the hip joint in a cohort of patients with calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) which were previously evaluated by conventional radiography (CR); to assess the sensitivity and specificity as well as the agreement between US and CR in the evaluation of hip CPP crystal deposits.

Design: Fifty consecutive patients with "definite" CPPD and 40 age/sex/body mass index-matched disease controls who had undergone hip CR within the previous six months were enrolled. Bilateral hip US examination was carried out by one of the authors (A. Read More

Semin Arthritis Rheum 2018 Oct 14. Epub 2018 Oct 14.

Université Paris Diderot France, France; Department of Rheumatology, Hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, 75010 Paris, France; INSERM U1132, Hôpital Lariboisière, Université Paris Diderot, France. Electronic address:

Background: Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPPD) has been reported to involve the spine, but few systematic studies have been published.

Objective: To further characterize the spinal involvement with CPPD by a review of CPPD patients hospitalized in a rheumatology department.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data for patients consecutively admitted with a diagnosis of CPPD in the rheumatology department of Lariboisière hospital in Paris, France over 5 years by using a standardized protocol and electronic case report forms. Read More

Curr Cardiol Rev 2018 Oct 31. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de la Fundación Jiménez Díaz. Avenida Reyes Católicos 2, 28040, Madrid. Spain.

Vascular calcification is a pathologic phenomenon consisting of calcium phosphate crystal deposition in the vascular walls. Vascular calcification has been found to be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, due to its correlation with cardiovascular events and mortality, and it has been associated with aging, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Studies of vascular calcification have focused on phosphate homeostasis, primarily on the important role of hyperphosphatemia. Read More

Int Wound J 2018 Oct 31. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Division of Dermatology and Connective Tissue Medicine, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan.

Sudden-onset immobilisation generates unexpected external forces over bony prominences and is a potential cause of pressure ulcers. Here, we report two cases of deep pressure ulcers in patients with acute monoarthritis as a result of calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystal deposition (pseudogout). The patients were women in their 80 who could perform activities of daily living by themselves. Read More

BJR Case Rep 2018 7;4(1):20170049. Epub 2017 Oct 7.

Departments of Clinical Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition disease is characterized by the accumulation of CPPD crystal in articular and periarticular tissues, but CPPD crystal deposition along the spinal dura mater has not been previously reported. We report a 54-year-old male presenting with progressive neck pain and numbness of the extremities. CT showed diffuse dorsal epidural calcification from C3-T6 which resulted in spinal canal stenosis. Read More

Rev Med Interne 2018 Oct 19. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Service de médecine interne, hôpital Avicenne, AP-HP, 93000 Bobigny, France.

Introduction: Chondrocalcinosis results from calcium pyrophosphate crystals deposition in the joints. We report an exceptional case of aseptic psoas abscess with a deposition of calcium pyrophosphate crystals.

Case Report: A 92-year-old man presented to our department for an acute onset of inflammatory pain in the left hip. Read More

J Craniofac Surg 2018 Nov;29(8):e792-e794

Department of Maxillofacial Surgery.

Background: The association between the synovial chondromatosis (SC) and the calcium pyrophosphate deposition (pseudogotta) in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is very rare and has been described just 1 patient in the literature.

Clinical Presentation: A 64-year-old woman was referred to Dipartimento di Scienze Odontostomatologiche e Maxillo-Facciali, Sapienza Università di Roma after complaining about right temporomandibular pain, limitation in mandibular movements, and tumefaction in the right preauricular region. The patient was hospitalized for the surgery. Read More

J Med Ultrason (2001) 2018 Oct 16. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Rheumatology Department, Università Politecnica delle Marche, "Carlo Urbani" Hospital, Iesi, Ancona, Italy.

Purpose: This study aimed at investigating the prevalence of crystal deposits with knee osteoarthritis (OA) by ultrasonography and measure the inflammatory burden associated with crystal deposits in OA using WOMAC score.

Methods: Adult patients with primary knee OA diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria were included. Participants were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, knee US, and plain radiography. Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2018 Oct 16;13(1):255. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Lourdes Medical Center Burlington County, Willingboro, NJ, 08046, USA.

Clin Nucl Med 2019 Feb;44(2):e98-e100

From the Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

A 53-year-old man with a 10-year history of gout was admitted to our hospital due to chronic low back pain. Initial CT examinations showed a high-density mass with bone destruction of bilateral facet joints at the L3 to L5 level. MRI findings also revealed lesion with the dural sac compression. Read More

Asian Spine J 2018 Dec 16;12(6):1117-1122. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Akita, Japan.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of periodontoid calcification and its associations with acute cervical pain.

Overview Of Literature: Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) deposition disease is a common rheumatological disorder that occurs especially in elderly patients. Read More

Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ) 2018 Sep;47(9)

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) is a common treatment for rotator cuff tear arthropathy. We performed a systematic review of all the RTSA literature to answer if we are treating the same patients with RTSA, across the world. A systematic review was registered with PROSPERO, the international prospective register of systematic reviews, and performed with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines using 3 publicly available free databases. Read More

J Rheumatol 2018 Oct;45(10):1422-1423

Department of Medicine, Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.

RMD Open 2018 21;4(2):e000743. Epub 2018 Sep 21.

Université Paris Diderot, USPC, UFR de Médecine, Paris, France.

Objectives: To survey the undergraduate rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) curriculum content in a sample of medical schools across Europe.

Methods: The undergraduate musculoskeletal diseases and disability curriculum of University of Nottingham, UK, was used as a template to develop a questionnaire on curriculum content. The questionnaire elicited binary (yes/no) responses and included the option to provide additional information as free text. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Sep 28;2018. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Medicine/Rheumatology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

We report a case of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) with an unusual presentation of severe chondrocalcinosis with atypical large burden deposited in the metacarpophalangeal joints as well as more typical deposition in wrists and knees as demonstrated on plain radiographs. A 77-year-old African-American woman 1-year status post parathyroidectomy for hyperparathyroidism initially presented to the rheumatology clinic to treat suspected rheumatoid arthritis given her pattern of joint involvement but was found to have CPPD. The patient's history is notable for end-stage renal disease which complicates medical management. Read More

Can Assoc Radiol J 2018 Nov 22;69(4):430-436. Epub 2018 Sep 22.

Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Purpose: To analyze the utilization, indications, and outcomes of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) gout imaging in clinical practice.

Methods: This retrospective study was ethics approved. Radiology reports of DECT gout scans between 2007 and 2016 were analyzed for trends of utilization, referral pattern, indication, and diagnosis. Read More

Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg 2018 Dec 3;40(1):19. Epub 2018 Aug 3.

4Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, College of Dentistry, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, 25457 Republic of Korea.

Background: Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPDD) is a rare disease in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) space. It forms a calcified crystal mass and induces a limitation of joint movement.

Case Presentation: The calcified mass in our case was occupied in the left TMJ area and extended to the infratemporal and middle cranial fossa. Read More

Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2018 Sep 10. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Center of Experimental Orthopaedics, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany.

Possible failures of autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), a cell-based technique for articular cartilage repair, are not always clinically apparent and the underlying mechanisms largely remain unknown. This case report presents the first scenario in the literature highlighting an association of a medium-term partial failure of an advanced ACI procedure (matrix-assisted ACI) in the knee with focal asymptomatic calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, a common inflammatory pyrophosphate arthropathy. The specific presence of CPPDs, resulting from increased biomechanical stresses in the repair tissue-cartilage and repair tissue-subchondral bone integration sites, together with the absence of cartilage regeneration was identified and possibly contributed to the partial failure. Read More

Pathol Res Pract 2018 Oct 27;214(10):1661-1666. Epub 2018 Aug 27.

Department of Histopathology, NDORMS, University of Oxford, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford, OX3 7HE, UK. Electronic address:

Background: Localised (transthyretin-associated) amyloid is commonly seen in articular/periarticular tissues of elderly individuals. Whether age-associated, amyloid deposition occurs in foot and ankle (F&A) tissues has not previously been investigated. In this study we assessed the nature and frequency of F&A amyloid deposition and determined whether it is associated with age and/or specific articular/periarticular F&A lesions. Read More

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2018 Jul 19. Epub 2018 Jul 19.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Objectives: It is unclear whether attack recurrence rates are similar between acute calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystal arthritis and gout. This study compared the clinical features and recurrence rates of both conditions.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we reviewed 106 patients with acute CPP crystal arthritis (based on the presence of CPP crystals and/or chondrocalcinosis) and 173 patients with gout (based on the presence of monosodium urate crystals). Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2018 Aug 25. Epub 2018 Aug 25.

Service de Rhumatologie, Hôpital Bichat, APHP, Université Paris Diderot, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75018, Paris, France.

Calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) deposition is a frequent joint disease with increased prevalence in older people in whom treatment of acute CPP arthritis with conventional therapies such as colchicine or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs could be contraindicated or not used at an optimal dose. As recommended in gout, anakinra might represent an alternative treatment for arthritis. We aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of anakinra in acute CPP arthritis in a large reported series. Read More

Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2018 Aug 7;143(16):1157-1166. Epub 2018 Aug 7.

The metabolic diseases gout and calciumpyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) (formerly: chondrocalcinosis/pseudogout) are crystal arthropathies which are caused by crystals in synovial fluid and in the case of gout also in periarticular structures. Today, in particular gout is considered as an auto-inflammatory process since phagocytosis of monosodium urate crystals by monocytes/macrophages results in the activation of the innate immune system by activation of the NRLP3-Inflammasome and consecutive secretion of the key cytokine interleukin-1ß and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. The prevalence of both crystal arthropathies rises with increasing age of patients. Read More

Reumatol Clin 2018 Jul 26. Epub 2018 Jul 26.

Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, España.

Rev Neurol (Paris) 2018 Dec 24;174(10):671-674. Epub 2018 Jul 24.

Unité de soins intensifs neuro-vasculaires et réseau bourgogne-AVC, CHU de Dijon Bourgogne, 14, rue Paul-Gaffarel, 21079 Dijon cedex, France.

Pain after stroke (PAS) is a common clinical problem that is both underdiagnosed and undertreated. Yet, it induces depression and cognitive troubles, and impairs quality of life. To provide tools for practitioners, this report describes the most common PAS syndromes, including central post-stroke pain, spasticity and contractures, shoulder pain and complex regional pain syndromes, as well as headache and chondrocalcinosis, along with their risk factors, their prevention and their specific treatments. Read More

EFORT Open Rev 2018 06 6;3(6):363-373. Epub 2018 Jun 6.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, La Paz University Hospital - IdiPaz, Spain.

An age younger than 60 years, a body weight of 180 lb (82 kg) or more, performing heavy work, having chondrocalcinosis and having exposed bone in the patellofemoral (PF) joint are not contraindications for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA).Severe wear of the lateral facet of the PF joint with bone loss and grooving is a contraindication for UKA.Medial UKA should only be performed in cases of severe osteoarthritis (OA) as shown in pre-operative X-rays, with medial bone-on-bone contact and a medial/lateral ratio of < 20%. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2018 Jul 5;12(1):205. Epub 2018 Jul 5.

Rheumatology Department, Hédi Chaker University Hospital, El-Aïn Street Km 0,5, zip code 3029, Sfax, Tunisia.

Background: Septic arthritis is an infectious disease that commonly affects weight-bearing or proximal joints such as the knee and the hip. The sternoclavicular joint is an unusual site of this entity. It usually occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus, intravenous drug abusers, or those with rheumatoid arthritis. Read More

Int J Rheum Dis 2018 Jul;21(7):1391-1397

Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Korea.

Aim: Chondrocalcinosis results from deposition of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate in articular cartilage. It is a relatively common radiographic finding of the joints, especially the knee. This study investigated the incidence and the risk factors for the development of knee chondrocalcinosis in the general population. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Jun 20;2018. Epub 2018 Jun 20.

Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany.

In the field of traumatic shoulder dislocations, this report of a 61-year-old female patient discusses the case of an acute locked superior shoulder dislocation in conjunction with a chronic rotator cuff arthropathy resulting from a low-energy fall on the outstretched and abducted arm. Radiological assessment revealed a complex combination of associated bony injuries including a fracture of the upper part of the glenoid and an impaction fracture of the inferior articular surface of the humeral head. Closed reduction and immobilisation were not successful in obtaining joint stability. Read More

PLoS One 2018 13;13(6):e0198104. Epub 2018 Jun 13.

Laboratory of Tissue Homeostasis and Disease, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Tissue calcification is an important physiological process required for the normal structure and function of bone. However, ectopic or excessive calcification contributes to diseases such as chondrocalcinosis, to calcium deposits in the skin or to vascular calcification. SMOC2 is a member of the BM-40/osteonectin family of calcium-binding secreted matricellular proteins. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 28;9:1145. Epub 2018 May 28.

School of Biochemistry and Immunology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

It is now well established that intra-articular deposition of endogenous particulates, such as osteoarthritis-associated basic calcium phosphate crystals, gout-associated monosodium urate crystals, and calcium deposition disease-associated calcium pyrophosphate crystals, contributes to joint destruction through the production of cartilage-degrading enzymes and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, exogenous wear-debris particles, generated from prosthetic implants, drive periprosthetic osteolysis which impacts on the longevity of total joint replacements. Over the last few years, significant insight has been gained into the mechanisms through which these particulates exert their effects. Read More

Int Immunopharmacol 2018 Aug 8;61:197-203. Epub 2018 Jun 8.

Laboratorio de Líquido Sinovial, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación "Luis Guillermo Ibarra-Ibarra (INR-LGII), Calz. México-Xochimilco No. 289, Col. Arenal de Guadalupe, Delegación Tlalpan, C.P. 14389 Ciudad de México, Mexico.

The anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of nanoparticles in several chronic diseases have been extensively researched. The aim of this review is to examine how nanoparticles modulate the inflammatory pathways that characterize the most prevalent forms of microcrystal-induced arthritis, including gout, pseudogout, and BCP-induced arthritis. The nanoparticles of chitosan-coated calcium phosphate, uricase, aceclofenac, and gold have been investigated in crystal-inducedarthritis. Read More

Insights Imaging 2018 Jun 7. Epub 2018 Jun 7.

Department of Radiology, Radio-Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, 1000 rue Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC, H2X 0C1, Canada.

Musculoskeletal calcifications are frequent on radiographs and sometimes problematic. The goal of this article is to help radiologists to make the correct diagnosis when faced with an extraosseous musculoskeletal calcification. One should first differentiate a calcification from an ossification or a foreign body and then locate the calcification correctly. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2018 05 30;20(1):104. Epub 2018 May 30.

Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.

Background: Meniscal calcification is considered to play a relevant role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis of the knee. Little is known about the biology of acetabular labral disease and its importance in hip pathology. Here, we analyze for the first time the calcification of the acetabular labrum of the hip (ALH) and its relation to hip cartilage degeneration. Read More

Matrix Biol 2018 10 24;71-72:51-69. Epub 2018 May 24.

Department of Biological Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Mechanical Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. Electronic address:

Hyaline cartilages, fibrocartilages and elastic cartilages play multiple roles in the human body including bearing loads in articular joints and intervertebral discs, providing joint lubrication, forming the external ears and nose, supporting the trachea, and forming the long bones during development and growth. The structure and organization of cartilage's extracellular matrix (ECM) are the primary determinants of normal function. Most diseases involving cartilage lead to dramatic changes in the ECM which can govern disease progression (e. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2018 May 24;19(1):169. Epub 2018 May 24.

Department of Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedics and Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.

Background: Cartilage calcification (CC) is associated with osteoarthritis (OA) in weight-bearing joints, such as the hip and the knee. However, little is known about the impact of CC and degeneration on other weight-bearing joints, especially as it relates to the occurrence of OA in the ankles. The goal of this study is to analyse the prevalence of ankle joint cartilage calcification (AJ CC) and to determine its correlation with factors such as histological OA grade, age and BMI in the general population. Read More

J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2018 Sep 18;27(9):1596-1601. Epub 2018 May 18.

Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.

Background: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) has gained increasing popularity in the treatment of rotator cuff tear arthropathy (CTA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the survival of RSA and the risk factors for revision following RSA.

Methods: RSA patients with CTA or osteoarthritis were identified from the Nordic Arthroplasty Register Association registry data (2004-2013). Read More

Prim Care 2018 Jun;45(2):213-236

San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Consortium, Department of Rheumatology, 3851 Roger Brooke Drive, San Antonio, TX 78234, USA.

Gout and pseudogout are crystalline arthropathies commonly seen in primary care. It is important to understand their pathophysiology to facilitate recognition and appropriate treatment. Prompt gouty arthritis treatment relieves short-term suffering. Read More

J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2018 Sep 7;27(9):1614-1621. Epub 2018 May 7.

Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address:

Background: A patient with arthritis usually experiences the progression of symptoms over time. At some stage, the patient may decide that the symptoms have reached a level of severity that leads him or her to elect to proceed with joint replacement; we refer to this degree of symptom severity as the "tipping point." Our goal was to study the factors that influenced the tipping point for patients undergoing elective shoulder arthroplasty. Read More

J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2018 Sep 3;27(9):1622-1628. Epub 2018 May 3.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Orthopedics, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.

Background: Treatment options for irreparable cuff tears include synthetic interposition grafts, but whether such grafts can maintain acceptable shoulder function and prevent cuff tear arthropathy in the long-term is unknown.

Method: This was a retrospective case series of 13 consecutive patients treated with a synthetic interposition graft made of Dacron (DuPont, Wilmington, DE, USA). Patients were examined with bilateral ultrasonography, bilateral x-ray imaging, Constant-Murley score, and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff score. Read More

Reumatol Clin 2018 May 3. Epub 2018 May 3.

Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife, España. Electronic address:

I present a clinical case of a 64-year-old male patient with hemochromatosis (homozygous C282Y) and crystal induced arthropathy showing the most common radiological features found in this metabolic disorder and the differences that may exist when compared to other primary degenerative processes or other inflammatory pathologies. Read More

Med Ultrason 2018 May;20(2):159-163

Department Of Rheumatology,Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Aim: To evaluate the presence and distribution of calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) deposits in joints commonly affected by CPP deposition (CPPD) disease (acromio-clavicular, gleno-humeral, wrists, hips, knees, ankles, and symphysis pubis joints) using ultrasound (US).

Material And Methods: Thirty consecutive patients fulfilling McCarty diagnostic criteria for CPPD were consecutively enrolled in the study. The data registered using the US included the affected joints, the calcification site, and the pattern of calcification (thin hyperechoic bands, parallel to the surface of the hyaline cartilage, hyperechoic spots, and hyperechoic nodular or oval deposits). Read More

J Rheumatol 2018 May;45(5):723-724

Department of Rheumatology, University Teaching Hospital, Besançon, France. Ethics approval for this case report was not required in accordance with the policy of the authors' institution.

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2018 08;57(8):1472-1480

Department of Rheumatology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Objectives: Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) is associated with osteoarthritis and is the cause of a common inflammatory articular disease. Ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (eNPP1) is the major ecto-pyrophosphatase in chondrocytes and cartilage-derived matrix vesicles (MVs). Thus, eNPP1 is a principle contributor to extracellular pyrophosphate levels and a potential target for interventions aimed at preventing CPPD. Read More

J Med Chem 2018 May 2;61(9):3939-3951. Epub 2018 May 2.

Department of Chemistry , Bar-Ilan University , Ramat-Gan 5290002 , Israel.

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase-1 (NPP1) hydrolyzes phosphodiester bonds of nucleotides such as ATP, resulting mainly in the formation of AMP and pyrophosphate. NPP1 activity plays a deleterious function in calcified aortic valve disease and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease. Thus, inhibitors of NPP1 represent a medical need. Read More

Curr Rheumatol Rep 2018 Apr 19;20(6):31. Epub 2018 Apr 19.

Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.

Purpose Of Review: Current evidence and accumulated experience for the management of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) are presented.

Recent Findings: Contrary to other rheumatic inflammatory conditions that account for high interest and growing research, advances in treating CPPD are still very limited and mostly derive from those achieved in gout. Once formed, calcium pyrophosphate crystals cannot be dissolved; therefore, management relies on the control of crystal-derived inflammation. Read More

J Clin Rheumatol 2018 Apr 5. Epub 2018 Apr 5.

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Health System Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veteran Affairs Medical CenterPhiladelphia,

Rheumatol Int 2018 Jun 17;38(6):1083-1088. Epub 2018 Apr 17.

Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 60 Fenwood Road, Suite 6016, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.

To test the performance of a billing claims-based calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) algorithm for identifying pseudogout. We applied a published CPPD algorithm at an academic institution and randomly selected 100 patients for electronic medical record review for 3 phenotypes: (1) definite/probable CPPD, (2) definite/probable pseudogout; (3) definite pseudogout. Clinical data were recorded and positive predictive value (PPV) (95% CI) for each phenotype was calculated. Read More

Eur J Rheumatol 2018 Mar 29;5(1):53-57. Epub 2017 Aug 29.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.

Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease, also known as pseudogout, is one of the most common forms of inflammatory arthritis. A variety of comorbidities and metabolic conditions have been recognized to predispose to CPPD. We describe here a patient with chronic CPP arthritis due to hypomagnesemia, which is one of the metabolic etiologies associated with CPPD, especially in younger patients. Read More

Diagn Cytopathol 2018 Sep 11;46(9):748-751. Epub 2018 Apr 11.

Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) deposition disease is a metabolic arthropathy which results from deposition of calcium pyrophosphate crystals in and around joints especially the hyaline cartilage and disc material. This metabolic disease in uncommon in the smaller joints and multiple diagnostic modalities along with biochemical investigations would be necessary for definite diagnosis. We highlight the case of a 48 year old male who presented with a painful mass at the base of left thumb and was clinic-radiologically suspected as malignancy. Read More