Complications resulting from misdiagnosing pseudogout as sepsis

Abstract

Acute pyrophosphate arthropathy (pseudogout) is a common cause of acute monarthritis in the elderly.1 As in gout, acute attacks are not uncommonly provoked by surgery or intercurrent illness.12We report on four patients who developed pseudogout in clinical circumstances which led to initial misdiagnosis as septic arthritis. In each case the correct diagnosis of crystal synovitis was delayed, permitting development of severe adverse side effects from treatment instituted for sepsis. © 1986, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.