GOUT OR PSEUDOGOUT - HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE CRYSTAL-INDUCED ARTHROPATHIES

Gout is an inflammatory joint disease that primarily affects middle-ag ed men and postmenopausal women. It is characterized by severe pain an d erythema in the big toe and other affected joints. Acute gout may be triggered by diuretics, aspirin, minor trauma, or acute illness. The presence of monosodium urate crystals within. phagocytes from synovial fluid aspirates is almost always diagnostic. Calcium pyrophosphate de position disease (''pseudogout'') usually affects larger joints and of ten, follows trauma, surgery, or ischemic heart disease. Microscopic e xamination of crystals under compensated polarized Eight is used to di fferentiate gout and pseudogout. Disorders involving basic calcium pho sphate are often more difficult to diagnose and treat but are also les s likely to be disabling.