Читать книгу Arthritis For Dummies - Barry Fox - Страница 90

The symptoms of pseudogout are similar to those of gout but without the needlelike uric acid crystals in the joint. Instead, pseudogout is characterized by rhomboid-shaped crystals made up of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate. And although gout typically affects the big toe joint, pseudogout more often targets the knee.

The disease itself may be acute or chronic. Acute attacks are likely to strike suddenly, settle in, and last for several days or even weeks. (Fortunately, they are usually not as painful as acute attacks of “true” gout.) The chronic form of pseudogout produces attacks that last longer, typically targets more than one joint at a time and, with time, severely damages those joints.

The causes of pseudogout are unknown. Surgery, a hormonal imbalance, or a metabolic upset may touch it off. Sometimes it strikes in conjunction with other diseases or conditions, such as low blood levels of magnesium or excessive blood levels of iron or calcium. Pseudogout strikes men and women at about the same rate and prefers older folks, especially those over the age of 60. Trauma to a joint will also increase the risk of developing pseudogout in that joint.