Makindo Medical Notes"One small step for man, one large step for Makindo" |
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Related Subjects: |Calcium Physiology |Rheumatoid arthritis |Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma) |RA vs OA |Acute and Chronic Gout |Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition (Pseudogout)
💡 Always aspirate the joint if diagnosis is uncertain to rule out septic arthritis 🔴. Send fluid for: cell count + Gram stain (Microbiology), polarizing microscopy for crystals (Histopathology), and culture. Record colour, viscosity, and turbidity of aspirate.
Feature | Gout | Pseudogout (CPPD) |
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Crystal | Monosodium urate | Calcium pyrophosphate |
Shape | Needle-shaped | Rhomboid |
Birefringence | Negative (yellow with parallel light) | Positive (blue with parallel light) |
Typical Joint | 1st MTP (big toe) | Knee, wrist, hip |
Peak Symptoms | Hours | Days (slower onset, longer course) |