CPPD
Medical abbreviation · Musculoskeletal & Rheumatology
| Stands for | Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
CPPD stands for Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, a musculoskeletal & rheumatology abbreviation.
Arthritis caused by calcium pyrophosphate crystals in cartilage and joints, mainly in older adults. Acute attacks, traditionally called pseudogout, cause sudden painful swelling of a knee or wrist; X-rays often show cartilage calcification (chondrocalcinosis).
Example: Knee aspirate: rhomboid weakly positively birefringent crystals, consistent with acute CPPD.
Usage notes
Under polarized light the crystals are rhomboid and weakly positively birefringent, unlike the needle-shaped, negatively birefringent urate crystals of gout. Associations include hyperparathyroidism, hemochromatosis and low magnesium, especially in younger patients. The first ACR/EULAR classification criteria were published in 2023. Unlike gout, there is no drug to dissolve the crystals.
Related abbreviations
More musculoskeletal & rheumatology abbreviations
- APS – Antiphospholipid syndrome
- AS – Ankylosing spondylitis
- AVN – Avascular necrosis
- axSpA – Axial spondyloarthritis
- BTB – Bone-patellar tendon-bone (graft)
- CES – Cauda equina syndrome
- CRPP – Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning
- CRPS – Complex regional pain syndrome
- CTS – Carpal tunnel syndrome
- DAS28 – Disease Activity Score in 28 joints
- DDD – Degenerative disc disease
- DDH – Developmental dysplasia of the hip
See all 71 musculoskeletal & rheumatology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.