git add

Skip to main content

Chondrocalcinosis

Peer reviewed by Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGPAuthored by Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGPOriginally published 24 Aug 2023

Meets Patient’s editorial guidelines

Chondrocalcinosis is very common but only tends to cause symptoms when it is caused by an underlying condition, such as osteoarthritis.

At a glance

  • Chondrocalcinosis means calcium deposits in the cartilage of a joint.

  • The condition usually doesn't cause discomfort itself and is often found on X-rays.

  • Symptoms depend on the underlying cause, such as joint pain from osteoarthritis or swelling in pseudogout.

  • Injuries, older age, and some medical conditions can increase the risk of chondrocalcinosis.

  • Treatment focuses on managing the underlying cause and related symptoms.

This summary has been automatically generated from the article content to help readers quickly understand the key points.

In this article:

Video picks for Arthritis

Continue reading below

What is chondrocalcinosis?

Chondrocalcinosis means the presence of calcium deposits in the cartilage of a joint. It was used to describe a condition called pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease, CPPD), but chondrocalcinosis is a more general term for calcium deposits and there are a number of other causes apart from pseudogout. For example, it may occur in severe osteoarthritis.

Chondrocalcinosis increases with age and has been reported to affect about 1 in 10 people.

See also the leaflet on Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition (Pseudogout). CPPD is similar to gout, which is caused by excessive levels of uric acid in the body.

Chondrocalcinosis symptoms

Back to contents

Normally, chondrocalcinosis itself does not cause any discomfort or any problem with joint function, and is only diagnosed by an X-ray. The symptoms therefore depend on the underlying cause of chondrocalcinosis, such as:

  • Joint pain and inflammation caused by osteoarthritis.

  • In pseudogout, the affected joint (especially the wrist, knee or ankle) becomes swollen and stiff. A fever might develop.

  • Symptoms associated with acute attacks of rheumatoid arthritis, such as joint stiffness, swelling and pain, affecting joints on both sides of the body.

Continue reading below

Causes of chondrocalcinosis

Back to contents

Injuries that deteriorate the joint cartilage, such as different types of arthritis or repetitive injury can lead to excess deposits of calcium crystals in the joint. Older people are more at risk.

Other causes can be a lack of body magnesium or excess calcium or iron. The disease can also be related to many other disorders, such as hyperparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, low magnesium (hypomagnesaemia), low phosphate (hypophosphatasia), Wilson's disease and haemochromatosis.

Diagnosing chondrocalcinosis

Back to contents

Chondrocalcinosis can be seen with an X-ray CT scan, MRI, ultrasound or nuclear medicine scan. Other investigations will be needed to find out the underlying cause of the chondrocalcinosis, such as blood tests or taking a sample of the synovial fluid from the affected joint (intra articularly) to look for any possible underlying cause of the chondrocalcinosis.

Continue reading below

Chondrocalcinosis treatment

Back to contents

If the chondrocalcinosis is related to an underlying condition, the underlying condition must be treated first. Treatment will also be needed to manage symptoms associated with the underlying cause, such as treatment to reduce pain and stiffness of an affected joint with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Some measures to prevent joint wear and tear can help to reduce calcium deposits in the cartilage. Regular moderate exercise to increase muscle strength and maintaining a healthy weight can help.

Patient picks for Arthritis

Osteoarthritis

Bones, joints and muscles

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that causes pain and stiffness in joints. Symptoms may be helped by exercises, some physical devices and treatments and by losing weight if you are overweight. Anti-inflammatory painkillers and other medicines are sometimes advised. Joint replacement surgery is an option for severe cases.

by Dr Doug McKechnie, MRCGP

Gout

Bones, joints and muscles

Gout

Gout causes attacks of pain and swelling in one or more joints. An anti-inflammatory painkiller usually eases an attack quickly. Lifestyle factors may reduce the risk of having gout attacks. These include losing weight (if overweight), eating a healthy diet and not drinking a lot of alcohol or sugar-sweetened soft drinks. If gout attacks are frequent then taking a medicine (such as allopurinol) each day can prevent them.

by Dr Hayley Willacy, FRCGP

Frequently asked questions

If chondrocalcinosis often doesn't cause symptoms, why is it important to know if I have it?

Even if chondrocalcinosis itself doesn't cause discomfort, it can be a sign of an underlying condition that does. Discovering chondrocalcinosis on an X-ray can lead to further investigations to identify and treat conditions like osteoarthritis, pseudogout, or other disorders that can cause joint problems or affect your overall health.

What kind of exercise is considered 'moderate' to help prevent joint wear and tear?

The article suggests regular moderate exercise to increase muscle strength as a way to help reduce calcium deposits in cartilage. While it doesn't specify types of exercise, generally, moderate exercise is activity that allows you to talk but not sing, and includes things like brisk walking, swimming, cycling at a moderate pace, or dancing.

Can diet play a role in managing chondrocalcinosis, especially regarding magnesium or calcium levels?

The article mentions that a lack of body magnesium or excess calcium can be causes of chondrocalcinosis. It also lists low magnesium (hypomagnesaemia) and conditions like hyperparathyroidism or haemochromatosis (which can involve iron or calcium imbalances) as related disorders. While it doesn't offer dietary advice, if an underlying cause related to these levels is identified, your doctor might discuss dietary adjustments or supplements as part of managing that specific condition.

How are blood tests used to find the underlying cause of chondrocalcinosis?

Blood tests are amongst the investigations used to find the underlying cause of chondrocalcinosis. These tests can help identify conditions like hyperparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, hypomagnesaemia, hypophosphatasia, Wilson's disease, or haemochromatosis, all of which are listed as disorders that can be related to chondrocalcinosis.

If I have chondrocalcinosis, does that mean I will definitely develop pseudogout?

Chondrocalcinosis is a general term for calcium deposits in joint cartilage, and pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease, CPPD) is one specific condition where these deposits cause symptoms. However, the presence of chondrocalcinosis doesn't automatically mean you will develop pseudogout, as there are many other causes for the calcium deposits, such as severe osteoarthritis or repetitive injury.

These questions and answers have been generated from the information in this article.

Further reading and references

  • Zamora EA, Naik R; Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease.
  • Moret CS, Iordache E, D'Ambrosi R, et al; Chondrocalcinosis does not affect functional outcome and prosthesis survival in patients after total or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: a systematic review. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2022 Mar;30(3):1039-1049. doi: 10.1007/s00167-021-06519-6. Epub 2021 Mar 6.
  • Karimzadeh H, Sirous M, Sadati SN, et al; Prevalence of Chondrocalcinosis in Patients above 50 Years and the Relationship with Osteoarthritis. Adv Biomed Res. 2017 Jul 31;6:98. doi: 10.4103/2277-9175.211835. eCollection 2017.
  • Abhishek A, Doherty S, Maciewicz R, et al; Chondrocalcinosis is common in the absence of knee involvement. Arthritis Res Ther. 2012 Oct 4;14(5):R205. doi: 10.1186/ar4043.

Continue reading below

About the authorView full bio

Author image

Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP

General Practitioner, Medical Author

MBBS, MRCGP, MRCP (Paediatrics), DCH

Dr Colin Tidy is an NHS Doctor, based in Oxfordshire.

About the reviewerView full bio

Author image

Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGP

Chief Medical Officer for Health, Optum UK

MBChB, MRCGP(2013), BMedSci (hons), DFSRH, DRCOG, PGDipDerm (Distn)

Dr Krishna Vakharia is an NHS GP. She is also a regular examiner for the postgraduate Diploma in Practical Dermatology at Cardiff University as well as being the Chief Medical Officer for health at Optum UK.

Article history

The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

flu eligibility checker

Ask, share, connect.

Browse discussions, ask questions, and share experiences across hundreds of health topics.

symptom checker

Feeling unwell?

Assess your symptoms online for free

Sign up to the Patient newsletter

Your weekly dose of clear, trustworthy health advice - written to help you feel informed, confident and in control.

Please enter a valid email address

By subscribing you accept our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. We never sell your data.