Pseudogout Symptoms

Painful symptoms can occur when calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystals collect in the soft tissues of a joint and trigger an inflammatory immune system response, called pseudogout. These symptoms strike quickly and without warning.

Pseudogout most commonly affects 1 to 4 joints. It is less likely to cause pain in 5 or more joints.¹Slobodonick A, Toprover M, Pillinger M. Crystal Arthritis. In: Efthimiou P, ed. Absolute Rheumatology Review. Springer Nature Switzerland AG; 2020; chap 15. Accessed September 15, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23022-7_15 Any joint can be affected, most likely the knee, wrist, and/or large knuckles of the hand (metacarpophalangeal joints).¹Slobodonick A, Toprover M, Pillinger M. Crystal Arthritis. In: Efthimiou P, ed. Absolute Rheumatology Review. Springer Nature Switzerland AG; 2020; chap 15. Accessed September 15, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23022-7_15 The hip, shoulder, and spine can also be affected.¹Slobodonick A, Toprover M, Pillinger M. Crystal Arthritis. In: Efthimiou P, ed. Absolute Rheumatology Review. Springer Nature Switzerland AG; 2020; chap 15. Accessed September 15, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23022-7_15^,2Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, National Institute for Advancing Translational Sciences. Chondrocalcinosis 2. Last updated January 12, 2018. Accessed August 4, 2020. https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/1292/chondrocalcinosis-2

Signs and Symptoms of a Pseudogout Attack

The typical signs and symptoms of pseudogout are described below. Note that although pseudogout symptoms normally resolve within several weeks, they should not be left untreated. Over time pseudogout can lead to permanent joint damage.

Pain

The most notable symptom of pseudogout is pain at the affected joint. If more than one joint is affected, it is possible for the pain to be more severe in one joint and moderate or mild in other joints.

Swelling

Fluid can build up in the joint, causing noticeable swelling.

Read about How to Care for a Swollen Knee

Changes to the skin

As the joint becomes inflamed, the skin over the joint may appear red or purple (erythema) and may be warm to the touch. The skin may also appear stretched due to swelling.

Stiffness

Significant swelling and pain may make it difficult to bend and flex the joint. In addition to feeling stiff, the joint’s range of motion may be reduced.

Rapid onset

Pseudogout can develop suddenly and without warning, taking 6 to 12 hours for pain and swelling to peak in severity.³Zhang et. al. EULAR recommendations for calcium pyrophosphate deposition. Part I. Ann Rheum Dis. 2011 Apr;70(4):563-70. Epub 2011 Jan 7. PubMed PMID: 21216817. (In contrast, chronic CPP crystal arthritis has a more gradual onset, resembling osteoarthritis.¹Slobodonick A, Toprover M, Pillinger M. Crystal Arthritis. In: Efthimiou P, ed. Absolute Rheumatology Review. Springer Nature Switzerland AG; 2020; chap 15. Accessed September 15, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23022-7_15)

Fever and other flu-like symptoms

Pseudogout may cause a fever, chills, and/or other body-wide symptoms, such as a general feeling of being unwell. These inflammatory symptoms may be triggered as part of the immune system’s reaction to the calcium pyrophosphate crystals.

Duration of weeks or months

Left untreated, an episode of pseudogout can last days, weeks, or even months.¹Slobodonick A, Toprover M, Pillinger M. Crystal Arthritis. In: Efthimiou P, ed. Absolute Rheumatology Review. Springer Nature Switzerland AG; 2020; chap 15. Accessed September 15, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23022-7_15

Pseudogout Symptoms Differ from Gout Symptoms

While the immune system reactions that lead to gout and pseudogout produce similar symptoms, there are differences:

• Unlike gout, which often strikes in the middle of the night, pseudogout may occur at any time of day.
• While pseudogout pain can be severe, it is typically less extreme than the pain caused by an acute gout attack.¹Slobodonick A, Toprover M, Pillinger M. Crystal Arthritis. In: Efthimiou P, ed. Absolute Rheumatology Review. Springer Nature Switzerland AG; 2020; chap 15. Accessed September 15, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23022-7_15
• Recurrent cases of pseudogout do not result in tophi. Tophi (sing. tophus) are small white or yellow chunks of uric acid crystals that can be visible through the skin. They occur in people who have suffered from chronic gout for several years.
• An untreated episode of pseudogout can last several weeks or months. In contrast, an untreated episode of gout typically lasts a couple of weeks or less.

In addition, the symptoms of gout can have an obvious trigger, such as eating certain foods, drinking alcohol, or a change in medication. An episode of pseudogout is less likely to have a clear cause. Researchers are continuing to learn about the disease’s underlying causes and triggers.

Read more about Gout Symptoms and 5 Unusual Gout Symptoms