title: [Fever of unknown origin as a sign of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease].
abstract: Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition disease may manifest clinically as septic fever (40 degrees C), acute pseudogout attack of knee, wrist and shoulders, or as a variety of patterns of chronic inflammatory or degenerative joint disease. The association of pseudogout with fever is less widely recognised and may lead to over-investigation, delay in appropriate treatment and disproportionate costs. We report on a 67-year-old woman with a history of recurrent episodes of fever and polyarthritis every 2 months for the last 3 years. Because of this she was hospitalised several times, finally with suspected culture-negative endocarditis, and was treated for 6 weeks with gentamicin, rifampicin and vancomycin. During this therapy the patient again developed septic fever and acute arthritis of the right wrist. Radiographs of the wrist, knee and symphysis pubis revealed prominent chondrocalcinosis and destructive arthropathy.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik Anna Seiler, Inselspital Bern.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aeberli
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Stanga
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Gerber
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002131:Calcium Pyrophosphate / Q000032:analysis; D002805:Chondrocalcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011631:Pubic Symphysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D002131:Calcium Pyrophosphate