[Chondrocalcinosis: a diagnostic-therapeutic approach. Presentation of 10 clinical cases]

The disease caused by the deposition of dehydrated calcium pyrophosphate crystals (chondrocalcinosis) is a metabolic joint disease poorly known outside rheumatologic media. It is estimated that about 5% of the adult population has deposits in the knees and that prevalence increases with age. The incidence of symptomatic disease is about the same as that of gout. The clinical presentation is variable, from pseudogouty forms, pseudorheumatoid arthritis or secondary degenerative joint disease, to 20% of asymptomatic cases. In the systematic evaluation family history should be sought, and metabolic diseases such as gout, diabetes, hemochromatosis, hyperparathyroidism and hypothyroidism should be ruled out. The condition is treated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and although the outcome is generally favorable, severe destructive joint disease may develop. In the present article we review this condition on the basis of the presentation forms of 10 of our patients.