Calcium crystal-associated arthropathy mimicking a febrile systemic inflammatory disease in an elderly patient

Abstract

Crystal formation and deposition in the joints is an important and common cause of acute arthritis. The disease may present with fever and systemic signs. In this report, we describe the case of a 70-year-old man, who presented with a sudden and incapacitating polyarthritis of large and small joints, fever, asthenia and leukocytosis. After extensive investigation, radiography of the joints showed the presence of chondrocalcinosis. A few days after the beginning of the treatment with colchicine, he became completely asymptomatic, drawing one's attention of calcium crystal-associated arthropathy as a cause of febrile systemic inflammatory disease particularly in elderly population.

Figure 1

Radiographs showing chondrocalcinosis in meniscus of the knee, fibrocartilage of the wrist and elbow.

Figure 2

Radiograph of the right shoulder revealing joint space narrowing and irregularity of the glenohumeral bone surface compatible with ‘Milwaukee shoulder’.