Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Crystal arthropathy

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Specialty
  
rheumatology

ICD-9-CM
  
712

ICD-10
  
M10-M11

Crystal arthropathy is a class of joint disorder (called arthropathy) that is characterized by accumulation of tiny crystals in one or more joints. Polarizing microscopy and application of other crystallographic techniques have improved identification of different microcrystals including monosodium urate, calcium-pyrophosphate dihydrate, calcium hydroxyapatite, and calcium oxalate.

Contents

Types include:

Risk factors

  • Obesity
  • Renal failure
  • Hyperphosphatemia
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Hypercalcemia
  • Tissue damage (dystrophic calcification)

    • Causes

  • Deposition of crystals in joints
  • Calcium-pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal formation:
  • Increased production of inorganic pyrophosphate
  • Decreased levels of pyrophosphatase in cartilage
  • Decreased levels of cartilage glycosaminoglycans
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Hypophosphatasia
  • Hypomagnesemia
  • Hydroxyapatite deposition:
  • Tissue damage
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Hypercalcemia
  • Hyperphosphatemia
  • Calcium Oxalate deposition:
  • Enhanced production of oxalic acid due to enzyme defect
  • Poor excretion of oxalic acid in renal failure
  • Excessive ascorbic acid intake in renal failure

    • Differential diagnosis

  • Infectious arthritis
  • Type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia
  • Amyloidosis
  • Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Spondyloarthropathy
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia

    • References

    Crystal arthropathy Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA