[Crystal-induced arthropathies]

The formation and deposition of crystals in articular tissues increases with growing age. As a consequence crystal-induced or crystal-associated arthritides or arthropathies can be observed particularly in the elderly where these disorders comprise a considerable part of inflammatory joint diseases. Gout, induced by monosodiumrate crystals mostly presents as acute monarthritis, less frequently as a chronic polyarthritis. Calciumpyrophosphate deposition may induce acute pseudo-gout, rheumatoid-arthritis-like (pseudo-rheumatoid) arthritis and a variety of other clinical syndromes. Basic calciumphosphate crystals may be associated with acute and chronic recurrent or destructive arthropathies. The detection of crystals in joint fluids by polarized microscopy as well as typical X-ray-findings allow to make a diagnosis in the context of characteristic clinical features. In addition to the antiinflammatory treatment it is important to detect and treat underlying metabolic disorders.