Abstract
Although gout is the most common cause of a rapid
onset of joint, bursal or periarticular inflammation, other
crystal-induced disorders can produce the same clinical features.
Article Extract
A sudden onset of joint pain and swelling prompts
consideration of gout as the underlying cause. Other disorders can
present in a similar fashion and these alternate diagnoses are the focus
of this article. In each of the scenarios described below,
crystal-induced arthritis was a possible explanation. Awareness of the
potential diagnostic traps and appropriate investigations should enable
these disorders to be diagnosed correctly and thus effective treatment
to be used.
