Diseases That Mimic Gout
Gout is a disorder in which uric acid crystals accumulate in the joints. The sharp edges of these crystals irritate the soft tissue of the joints, and cause inflammation and pain. Uric acid crystals are the waste products formed when purines, which are part of the nucleic acids that make up the genes, break down. A number of other conditions can cause symptoms similar to those of gout.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Hydroxyapatite Pseudopodagra
Gout commonly affects a single joint initially, most often the joint of the big toe. Hydroxyapatite pseudopodagra is a disorder that manifests via a similar pattern of pain and swelling in the first metatarsophalangeal joint, which is the joint where the big toe meets the bones of the foot 4. The symptoms closely resemble gout, but differ in that they most commonly affect young women, while gout is more frequently associated with women of postmenopausal age.
Hydroxyapatite pseudopodagra differs from gout in that the crystals that form in the big toe are composed of calcium hydroxyapatite, not deposits of uric acid as is the case in gout.
- Gout commonly affects a single joint initially, most often the joint of the big toe.
- Hydroxyapatite pseudopodagra is a disorder that manifests via a similar pattern of pain and swelling in the first metatarsophalangeal joint, which is the joint where the big toe meets the bones of the foot 4.
Pseudogout
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Pseudogout is another disease that results from crystalline deposits that gather in the joint. In this condition, calcium pyrophosphate crystals are involved, forming deposits called chondrocalcinosis. Pseudogout affects some of the same joints that are typically involved in gout, such as:
- the shoulders
- hips
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis occurs due to wear on the joints over time, or due to damage to the joint caused by trauma. This condition is often confused with gout, and can actually coincide with gout, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center 12. The crystalline uric acid deposits that become lodged in the capsule of a joint can impinge on joint movement, or damage cartilage or bone tissue, leading to the formation of bone spurs or the erosion of the joint surface.
Charcot Foot
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Diabetics frequently experience damage to the nerves of the foot due to their disease. Charcot foot, also known as neuropathic arthropathy, is a condition that results from such nerve damage. Charcot foot manifests with symptoms such as swelling and inflammation of the foot. The University of Maryland Medical Center warns that this condition can lead to foot deformity 12.
- Diabetics frequently experience damage to the nerves of the foot due to their disease.
- Charcot foot manifests with symptoms such as swelling and inflammation of the foot.
Related Articles
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Gout - Diagnosis
- Penn State University: Hershey Medical Center: Pseudogout
- Radsource: Hydroxyapatite Deposition Disease
- Arthritis and Rheumatism; Hydroxyapatite Pseudopodagra - A Syndrome of Young Women
- American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Gout and Pseudogout. http://www.assh.org/handcare/hand-arm-conditions/Gout-and-Pseudogout.
- Arthritis Foundation. Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Crystal Deposition Disease (CPPD). http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/calcium-pyrophosphate-deposition-disease-cppd/.
- Barre L. Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition. (CPPD). American College of Rheumatology. https://www.rheumatology.org/I-Am-A/Patient-Caregiver/Diseases-Conditions/Calcium-Pyrophosphate-Deposition-CPPD.
- Cleveland Clinic. Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Deposition Disease (CPPD, or Pseudogout). December 28, 2017.
- The Department of Health and Human Services Montana. Health and Safety Guidelines Gout and Pseudogout. Published 2015.
- American College of Rheumatology. Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition (CPPD). Last updated March 2017.
- Macmullan P, Mccarthy G. Treatment and management of pseudogout: insights for the clinician. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2012;4(2):121-31. doi:10.1177/1759720X11432559
- Cleveland Clinic. Gout and Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease. Published June 2016.
- Rosenthal AK, Ryan LM. Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(26):2575-84. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1511117
- American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Gout and Pseudogout.
- Arthritis Foundation. Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Crystal Deposition Disease (CPPD).
- Barre L. Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition. (CPPD). American College of Rheumatology.
Writer Bio
For 15 years, Charis Grey's award-winning work has appeared in film, television, newspapers, magazines and on the Internet. She has worked as a story editor on the CBS drama "Flashpoint" and her work appears bimonthly in "The Driver Magazine." She has a Bachelor of Science in biology and a doctorate in chiropractic medicine from Palmer College.