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Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis 2020 16;12:1759720X20939405. Epub 2020 Jul 16.

Service de rhumatologie, Hôpital Roger Salengro, Rue Emile Laine, CHRU, 59037 Lille cedex, France.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and characteristics of bone and joint complications, specifically bone fragility, joint replacement surgery, and arthropathy, in hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) and related factors.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional observational study of 93 patients with HH. Radiographs of the hands, wrists, knees, and ankles were scored for joint space narrowing, erosions and cysts, osteophytes, and chondrocalcinosis. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2020 Jul 22. Epub 2020 Jul 22.

Universite de Paris, Paris, France

Objective: Macrophage activation by monosodium urate (MSU) and calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystals mediates an interleukin (IL)-1β-dependent inflammation during gout and pseudo-gout flare, respectively. Since metabolic reprogramming of macrophages goes along with inflammatory responses dependently on stimuli and tissue environment, we aimed to decipher the role of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in the IL-1β-induced microcrystal response.

Methods: Briefly, an in vitro study (metabolomics and real-time extracellular flux analysis) on MSU and CPP crystal-stimulated macrophages was performed to demonstrate the metabolic phenotype of macrophages. Read More

Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2020 Jul 16. Epub 2020 Jul 16.

Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Trauma Surgery, Orthopaedics and Plastic Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany. Electronic address:

Objectives: To investigate if cartilage calcification (CC) is a systemic process, the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and the amount of meniscal/hyaline CC of the knee joint in the general population by high-resolution imaging (DCR) and to evaluate the association between CC with cartilage degeneration and age.

Methods: Cross-sectional DCR-study of 180 knee joints of 90 donors (42 female/48 male, mean age 62.3y). Read More

Eur J Rheumatol 2020 Apr 1;7(2):84-87. Epub 2020 Apr 1.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University School of Medicine, Samsun, Turkey.

Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) is a crystal arthropathy, and may present with various clinical manifestations such as asymptomatic CPPD, osteoarthritis with CPPD, acute CPPD crystal arthritis (formerly pseudogout), and chronic CPPD crystal inflammatory arthritis. It is known that aging, trauma and osteoarthritis are major risk factors for CPPD. Acute CPP arthritis may occur as monoarticular or oligoarticular and usually involves large peripheral joints such as the knees, wrists and ankles. Read More

RMD Open 2020 07;6(2)

EULAR, Zurich, Switzerland.

Objectives: To gain insight into current methods and practices for the assessment of competences during rheumatology training, and to explore the underlying priorities and rationales for competence assessment.

Methods: We used a qualitative approach through online focus groups (FGs) of rheumatology trainers and trainees, separately. The study included five countries-Denmark, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom. Read More

Nephrol Ther 2020 Jul 1;16(4):233-243. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Département de génétique, hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France; Centre de Référence de maladies rénales rares de l'enfant et de l'adulte (MARHEA), Paris, France.

Bartter-Gitelman syndromes are rare inherited autosomal recessive salt-losing tubulopathies characterized by severe and chronic hypokalemia associated with metabolic alkalosis and secondary hyperaldosteronism. Bartter syndrome results from a furosemide-like defect in sodium reabsorption in the Henle's loop leading to hypercalciuria and defect in urinary concentration capacity. The antenatal Bartter syndrome is defined by polyhydramnios and an infantile polyuria with severe dehydration whereas classic Bartter syndrome appears during childhood or adulthood. Read More

Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2020 Jul 2;145(13):895-902. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is characterized by rapidly evolving shoulder and pelvic girdle pain with fatigue, weight loss, night sweats and elevated CRP and ESR. Giant cell arteritis (GCA) can occur in PMR and vice versa. Headache and scalp tenderness are typical for GCA. Read More

RMD Open 2020 06;6(2)

Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.

Objectives: Further knowledge about typical hand osteoarthritis (OA) characteristics is needed for the development of new classification criteria for hand OA.

Methods: In a cross-sectional multi-centre international study, a convenience sample of patients from primary and secondary/tertiary care with a physician-based hand OA diagnosis (n = 128) were compared with controls with hand complaints due to inflammatory or non-inflammatory conditions (n = 70). We examined whether self-reported, clinical, radiographic and laboratory findings were associated with hand OA using logistic regression analyses. Read More

Jt Dis Relat Surg 2020 18;31(2):395-398. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Radyoloji Anabilim Dalı, 26040 Meşelik, Eskisehir, Türkiye.

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition (CPPD) disease, also known as pseudogout, in which crystals are deposited in the joints and/or soft tissues, leads to a variety of articular and periarticular disorders. Herein we report a 67-year-old female patient with neck pain who was diagnosed as CPPD disease of both the atlantoaxial joint and right C4-C5 facet joint with radiological findings. The combined use of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can be helpful in establishing a diagnosis and providing the correct treatment. Read More

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020 Jun 19. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Departments of Medicine.

Object: Spinal arthropathy is associated with hereditary hemochromatosis and has been linked to calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate crystal deposition (CPPD) which resembles ankylosing spondylitis on radiograph, yet lacks clinical findings of inflammatory spinal arthritis. The aim of our study was to assess the use of spinal surgery and its outcomes in the US inpatient population with hereditary hemochromatosis from 2012 to 2016 by using the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database.

Methods: The observational retrospective cohort study uses the NIS 2012 to 2016. Read More

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc 2019 09 2;57(2):324-328. Epub 2019 Sep 2.

Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Hospital de Oftalmología, Servicio de Oftalmología. Ciudad de México, México.

Introduction: Chondrocalcinosis is a common joint condition in people over 50, characterized by the deposition of calcium pyrophosphate crystals that causes calcification in cartilage structures. Although its prevalence in the general population is 5%, sclerochoroidal calcifications are a rare finding in this pathology.

Objective: Describe the case of a 60-year-old man with choroidal calcification in the left eye, associated with radiological findings of chondrocalcinosis, whose metabolic report showed parameters compatible with hyperparathyroidism. Read More

Dentomaxillofac Radiol 2020 Jun 18:20190450. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussel, Belgium.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of TMJ chondrocalcinosis on head CT scans in patients with chondrocalcinosis of the knee or wrist.

Methods And Materials: 227 patients with radiological evidence of calcifications on knee or wrist radiographs had a head CT scan obtained for unrelated purposes. CT scans were retrospectively reviewed for the presence of temporomandibular crystal deposition. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2020 May 29. Epub 2020 May 29.

Seccion de Reumatologia, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain

Front Med (Lausanne) 2020 7;7:141. Epub 2020 May 7.

UOC e Sezione di Reumatologia - Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.

Differential diagnosis in early arthritis is challenging, especially early after symptom onset. Several studies applied musculoskeletal ultrasound in this setting, however, its role in helping diagnosis has yet to be clearly defined. The purpose of this work is to systematically assess the diagnostic applications of ultrasonography in early arthritis in order to summarize the available evidence and highlight possible gaps in knowledge. Read More

Joint Bone Spine 2020 May 11. Epub 2020 May 11.

Polytechnic University of Marche, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Rheumatology Unit, "Carlo Urbani" Hospital, Via Aldo Moro 25, Jesi 60035, Italy.

Objectives: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound and conventional radiography in the evaluation of calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposits at wrist level.

Methods: Consecutive patients with a "definite" diagnosis of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease and disease-controls were prospectively included in this cross-sectional single-centre study. Scapho-lunate ligament, triangular fibrocartilage complex, and volar recess of the radio-lunate joint were explored using ultrasound, conventional radiography and computed tomography. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2020 May 16. Epub 2020 May 16.

Medicine & Rheumatology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli (IOR), via Pupilli 1, 40136, Bologna, Italy.

J Biol Chem 2020 Jul 11;295(28):9366-9378. Epub 2020 May 11.

Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie de Montpellier (IRIM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France

Solute carrier family 20 member 2 (SLC20A2) and xenotropic and polytropic retrovirus receptor 1 (XPR1) are transporters with phosphate uptake and efflux functions, respectively. Both are associated with primary familial brain calcification (PFBC), a genetic disease characterized by cerebral calcium-phosphate deposition and associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms. The association of the two transporters with the same disease suggests that they jointly regulate phosphate fluxes and cellular homeostasis, but direct evidence is missing. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2020 07 5;79(7):975-984. Epub 2020 May 5.

Division of Mol Medicine of Musculoskeletal Tissue, University Munster, Munster, Germany.

Objective: Calcification of cartilage with basic calcium phosphate (BCP) crystals is a common phenomenon during osteoarthritis (OA). It is directly linked to the severity of the disease and known to be associated to hypertrophic differentiation of chondrocytes. One morphogen regulating hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation is Wnt3a. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 May 4;10(1):7408. Epub 2020 May 4.

Department of Biology and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Lane, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK.

ANKH mutations are associated with calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease and craniometaphyseal dysplasia. This study investigated the effects of these ANKH mutants on cellular localisation and associated biochemistry. We generated four ANKH overexpression-plasmids containing either calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease or craniometaphyseal dysplasia linked mutations: P5L, E490del and S375del, G389R. Read More

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2020 Apr 28. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Carlo Urbani Hospital, Jesi, Ancona, Italy.

The main aim of this systematic literature review (SLR) was to summarise the evidence in the use of biological therapies in calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD). We performed a SLR using PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases. Only studies reporting the efficacy of biologics in CPPD were selected. Read More

Bone Res 2020 26;8:19. Epub 2020 Apr 26.

1State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi International Joint Research Center for Oral Diseases, Center for Tissue Engineering, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032 Shaanxi China.

The loss-of-function mutations in the ALPL result in hypophosphatasia (HPP), an inborn metabolic disorder that causes skeletal mineralization defects. In adults, the main clinical features are early loss of primary or secondary teeth, osteoporosis, bone pain, chondrocalcinosis, and fractures. However, guidelines for the treatment of adults with HPP are not available. Read More

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2020 Apr 29. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Department of Endocrinology, Larrey Hospital, CardioMet Institute, University Hospital Centre of Toulouse, Toulouse, France.

Objective: Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia type 1 (FHH1), related to heterozygous loss-of-function mutations of the calcium-sensing receptor gene, is the main differential diagnosis for primary hyperparathyroidism. The aim of our study was to describe clinical characteristics of adult patients living in France with a genetically confirmed FHH1.

Design And Patients: This observational, retrospective, multicentre study included 77 adults, followed up in 32 clinical departments in France, with a genetic FHH1 diagnosis between 2001 and 2012. Read More

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2020 Apr 9. Epub 2020 Apr 9.

Section of Rheumatology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy.

Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) are frequently associated but the real relation between these diseases is not still understood. The aim of this paper is to investigate the characteristics in terms of inflammation, anatomical changes and synovial fluid (SF) features in knees of patients with OA and CPPD.

Methods: Consecutive patients older than 55 years with knee pain and swelling were enrolled. Read More

PLoS One 2020 16;15(4):e0231508. Epub 2020 Apr 16.

Department of Rheumatology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, United States of America.

Objective: To determine if findings of "cartilage icing" and chondrocalcinosis on knee radiography can differentiate between gout and calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD).

Methods: IRB-approval was obtained and informed consent was waived for this retrospective study. Electronic medical records from over 2. Read More

Reumatismo 2020 Apr 10;72(1):67-70. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

Unit of Rheumatology, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena.

Gitelman syndrome (GS) is an inherited salt-wasting tubulopathy characterized by hypocalciuria, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia and metabolic alkalosis, due to inactivating mutations in the SLC12A3 gene. Symptoms may be systemic, neurological, cardiovascular, ophthalmological or musculoskeletal. We describe a 70 year-old patient affected by recurrent arthralgias, hypoesthesia and hyposthenia in all 4 limbs and severe hypokalemia, complicated by atrial flutter. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2020 07 12;39(7):2239-2241. Epub 2020 Apr 12.

GREPI University Grenoble-Alpes (UGA) EA74 08, Grenoble, France.

Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2020 Apr 8. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Maxillofacial Unit, Liverpool Head and Neck Centre, Aintree University Hospital, Liverpool, UK.

This report presents a case of extensive tophaceous pseudogout involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), causing erosion into the middle cranial fossa. Pseudogout is a benign metabolic arthropathy caused by calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition within joints and peri-articular tissue. Pseudogout more frequently occurs in large joints such as the knee, wrist, symphysis pubis, and shoulder. Read More

Clin Case Rep 2020 Apr 5;8(4):640-643. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

Department of Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine Faculty of Dentistry University of Oslo Oslo Norway.

Calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate deposition (CPDD) disease very rarely affects the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It may resemble synovial chondromatosis, chondrosarcoma, chondroblastoma, or a parotid tumor. Clinical examination, CT, and MRI are important in making the correct diagnosis. Read More

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2020 Apr 7. Epub 2020 Apr 7.

Department of Rheumatology, INSERM UMR1184, Université Paris-Saclay, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.

Objective: Vedolizumab (VDZ) has been incriminated in the occurrence of articular manifestations in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). The aim of this study was to describe musculoskeletal manifestations occurring in IBD patients treated by VDZ and to identify risk factors.

Methods: In this retrospective monocentric study, we included all consecutive patients treated by VDZ for IBD in our hospital. Read More

BMC Neurol 2020 Mar 30;20(1):113. Epub 2020 Mar 30.

Internal Medicine Unit and Centre for Hemochromatosis and Heredometabolic Liver Diseases, EuroBloodNet Referral Center for Iron Disorders, Policlinico, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, Modena, Italy.

Background: Detection of brain-MRI T2/T2* gradient echo images (T2*GRE)-hypointensity can be compatible with iron accumulation and leads to a differential diagnosis work-up including neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) and Wilson Disease. Idiopathic or secondary brain calcification can be also associated with neurological involvement and brain-MRI T2/T2*GRE-hypointensity. Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), characterized by systemic iron loading, usually does not involve the CNS, and only sporadic cases of neurological abnormalities or brain-MRI T2/T2*GRE-hypointensity have been reported. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2020 Aug 25;79(8):1126-1128. Epub 2020 Mar 25.

Service de Rhumatologie, Hopital Lariboisiere, AP-HP, Paris, Île-de-France, France.

Atherosclerosis 2020 Mar 19. Epub 2020 Mar 19.

Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Fundación Jiménez Díaz (FIIS-FJD), Avenida Reyes Católicos 2, 28040, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

Cardiovascular complications due to accelerated atherosclerosis and arterial stiffening are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Western society. Both pathologies are frequently associated with vascular calcification. Deposits of calcium phosphate salts, mainly in form of hydroxyapatite, is the hallmark of vascular calcification. Read More

Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2020 Jun 12;28(6):802-810. Epub 2020 Mar 12.

Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.

Background: The role of intra-articular mineralization in osteoarthritis (OA) is unclear. Its understanding may potentially advance our knowledge of knee OA pathogenesis. We describe and assess the reliability of a novel computed tomography (CT) scoring system, the Boston University Calcium Knee Score (BUCKS) for evaluating intra-articular mineralization. Read More

Scand J Rheumatol 2020 May 10;49(3):249-250. Epub 2020 Mar 10.

Department of Rheumatology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Molecules 2020 Mar 2;25(5). Epub 2020 Mar 2.

Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, 272 Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.

Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) is a crystal induced inflammation in joints, and causes severe pain in elderly people. The accumulation of pyrophosphate (PPi) in synovial fluid (SF) results from several enzymatic reactions, especially the highly activated e-NPPs, which catalyze the conversion of ATP to PPi. This study demonstrates the detection of relative catalytic activity of 3 enzymes-ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterases (e-NPPs), tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP), and ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (e-NTPDases)-using a single molecular sensor called Kyoto Green. Read More

Case Rep Rheumatol 2020 10;2020:3218350. Epub 2020 Feb 10.

SUNY Upstate University Hospital, Syracuse, NY-13210, USA.

Inflammatory arthritis, such as pseudogout or otherwise referred to as calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystal arthritis or calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease, is characterized by the deposition of crystal formation and deposition in large joints. CPPD is known to affect the elderly population and commonly manifests as inflammation of knees, hips, and shoulders. CPPD disease involving the spine has been infrequently encountered in practice and rarely described in the literature. Read More

Wien Med Wochenschr 2020 Apr 18;170(5-6):112-115. Epub 2020 Feb 18.

St. Vincent Hospital-2nd Medical Department, The VINFORCE Study Group, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare disorder with perinatal, infantile, childhood, and adult presentations. Severe forms are autosomal recessive with an early onset, whereas milder forms have a later onset. The underlying cause of the disease is a mutation based on a genetic disorder of the tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) gene, leading on the one hand to decreased activity of the TNSALP enzyme, and on the other hand to accumulation of TNSALP substrates. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2020 Feb 12;21(1):97. Epub 2020 Feb 12.

Department of Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, #87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan Province, China.

Background: Patients with chondrocalcinosis may suffer from a series of symptoms resembling acute gouty arthritis or septic arthritis, but the aetiology and pathogenesis of chondrocalcinosis have not been fully elucidated yet. This study was aimed to assess serum zinc and copper concentrations, as well as the ratio of serum copper to zinc concentrations (Cu/Zn ratio), in relation to the prevalence of knee chondrocalcinosis.

Methods: Data included in this analysis were retrieved from a large population-based cross-sectional study. Read More

Sci Rep 2020 02 5;10(1):1911. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

Inserm UA7 Strobe, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, 38000, France.

X-ray Phase Contrast Imaging (PCI) is an emerging modality whose availability in clinics for mammography and lung imaging is expected to materialize within the coming years. In this study, we evaluate the PCI Computed Tomography (PCI-CT) performances with respect to current conventional imaging modalities in the context of osteo-articular disorders diagnosis. X-ray PCI-CT was performed on 3 cadaveric human hands and wrists using a synchrotron beam. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2020 Jan 7;13(1). Epub 2020 Jan 7.

Trauma and Orthopaedics, St Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust, Prescot, Merseyside, UK.

This case report is the first case to our knowledge of intratendinous or peritendinous calcification reported in Gitelman syndrome (GS) patients. GS represents the clinical manifestations of inactivation of the genes encoding the thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride cotransporter and the genes encoding the magnesium transporters in the distal convoluted tubule. Hence, the biochemical findings resemble those with thiazide diuretics such as hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia, hypocalciuria, metabolic alkalosis and low normal blood pressure. Read More

Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2020 Jan 7. Epub 2020 Jan 7.

Division of Rheumatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA.

Objective: Identifying pseudogout in large datasets is difficult due to its episodic nature and lack of billing codes specific to this acute subtype of calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) deposition disease. We evaluated a novel machine learning approach for classifying pseudogout using electronic health record (EHR) data.

Methods: We created an EHR data mart of patients with ≥1 relevant billing code or ≥2 natural language processing (NLP) mentions of pseudogout or chondrocalcinosis, 1991-2017. Read More

Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2020 Apr 3;102(4):248-255. Epub 2020 Jan 3.

Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.

Introduction: We review the literature and highlight the important factors to consider when counselling patients with non-traumatic rotator cuff tears on which route to take. Factors include the clinical outcomes of surgical and non-surgical routes, tendon healing rates with surgery (radiological outcome) and natural history of the tears if treated non-operatively.

Methods: A PRISMA-compliant search was carried out, including the online databases PubMed and Embase™ from 1960 to the end of June 2018. Read More

Cureus 2019 Nov 26;11(11):e6239. Epub 2019 Nov 26.

Emergency Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, USA.

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition disease or pseudogout is an idiopathic articular disease that predominantly affects elderly patients. It is caused by a systemic deposition of calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystals in the articular and hyaline joint cartilage. The majority of cases present as chronic arthritis, but a subset of CPPD can present as rapid onset of sharp pain and joint swelling, posing a diagnostic challenge. Read More

Curr Opin Rheumatol 2020 Mar;32(2):140-145

Sección de Reumatología, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante-ISABIAL.

Purpose Of Review: Calcium pyrophosphate crystal disease (CPPD) may be considered a neglected disorder, common in clinics and wards, but not receiving enough attention since the time it was recognized as a disease entity. This review aims to highlight the advances occurred in recent years in terms of imaging of CPPD, and their potential aid in diagnosing CPPD.

Recent Findings: The main advances in CPPD imaging have occurred with ultrasound and computed tomography. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2019 12 17;21(1):291. Epub 2019 Dec 17.

Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Section for Rheumatology, Lund University, Lund and Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence and incidence of non-gout crystal arthropathy in relation to socioeconomic factors in southern Sweden.

Methods: All patients (age ≥ 18 years) with at least one visit to a physician with the diagnosis of interest in the Skåne region (population of 1.3 million) in 1998-2014 were identified. Read More

Oral Maxillofac Surg 2020 Jun 16;24(2):235-238. Epub 2019 Dec 16.

Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.

Purpose: The authors present a rare case of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), successfully treated with complete resection and immediate reconstruction using a custom-made prosthesis. This one-stage approach has prevented the patient from requiring two surgeries and has proven effective in the management of the condition.

Methods: Our patient, a 56-year-old male, presented with left TMJ pain and trismus. Read More

J Belg Soc Radiol 2019 Nov 22;103(1):79. Epub 2019 Nov 22.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas, US.

The classic sonographic presentation of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposits in the Achilles tendon is reported. Read More

Arthritis Rheumatol 2020 05 3;72(5):726-732. Epub 2020 Apr 3.

Lariboisière Hospital, AP-HP, INSERM U1132, UFR de Médecine, and Paris Diderot University, Paris, France.

Objective: To assess the impact of knee chondrocalcinosis (CC) on the 5-year risk of joint replacement and disease progression in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Patients with symptomatic knee OA without previous total joint (knee or hip) replacement (TJR) were recruited from the Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis Long-term Assessment cohort. Cox proportional hazards regression and generalized estimating equation models were used to compare the time from inclusion or OA diagnosis to total knee replacement (TKR) or TJR between patients with and those without knee CC at inclusion. Read More

Skeletal Radiol 2020 May 4;49(5):707-713. Epub 2019 Dec 4.

Department of Radiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Objectives: To evaluate the ability of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) to improve diagnostic discrimination between gout and other crystal arthropathies such as calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) of the wrist in a clinical patient population.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective case-control study included 29 patients with either gout (case group; n = 9) or CPPD (control group; n = 20) who underwent DECT of the wrist for clinically suspected crystal arthropathy. Color-coded urate and enhanced calcium as well as virtual 120 kVe blended images were reconstructed from the DECT datasets. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Dec 2;12(12). Epub 2019 Dec 2.

Department of Rheumatology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease is a crystal arthropathy primarily affecting peripheral joints, most commonly the wrist and the knees. However, CPPD in the cervical spine is a rare entity. This report describes a case of CPPD of the cervical spine which presents with symptoms of neck pain and brachalgia. Read More