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Febrile presentation of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease
1Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27514.
The Journal of Rheumatology
|April 1, 1988
Insights
Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPPD) can cause prolonged fever and high sedimentation rates. Early consideration of CPPD aids in diagnosing and treating these unexplained inflammatory symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Internal Medicine
- Crystal-Induced Arthropathies
Background:
- Prolonged fever and elevated sedimentation rate are non-specific indicators of inflammation.
- Differential diagnosis for such symptoms is broad, often including infectious and autoimmune conditions.
- Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPPD) is a crystal-induced arthropathy that can present with systemic inflammatory features.
Observation:
- Three patients presented with prolonged fever and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
- Diagnostic workup initially did not identify infectious or other common inflammatory causes.
- Subsequent investigations revealed calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPPD) as the underlying etiology in all three cases.
Findings:
- Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPPD) was identified as the cause of prolonged fever and elevated ESR in the observed patients.
- All patients demonstrated a positive response to specific treatment for CPPD.
- This finding highlights a potential, less commonly recognized presentation of CPPD.
Implications:
- CPPD should be included in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with unexplained prolonged fever and elevated ESR.
- Timely diagnosis of CPPD can lead to appropriate treatment and resolution of systemic inflammatory symptoms.
- Further research may elucidate the mechanisms by which CPPD induces such pronounced systemic inflammation.
Abstract:
Three patients were found to have calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPPD) as the cause of prolonged fever and elevated sedimentation rate. All responded to treatment. CPPD should be considered in evaluating patients with fever and high sedimentation rate.