Gout and pseudogout are two types of arthritis that cause pain and swelling in the affected joints. These conditions are caused due to the formation of sharp-edged crystals in the joints. Having said that, they are sometimes mistaken for other conditions that affect joints like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and ankylosing spondylitis. Read on to know more about the difference between gout and pseudogout
The Difference Between Gout And Pseudogout
The main differences between gout and pseudogout are the type of crystals that cause the symptoms and the joints that are affected by them.
Mostly, gout symptoms develop in the big toe, but it can also affect other joints like the knee, ankle, wrist, and finger joints. It is caused due to the formation of urate crystals in these joints.
Pseudogout is caused due to the formation of calcium pyrophosphate crystals. Besides, it is obvious from the name that it is often mistaken for gout. Pseudogout typically affects large joints like the knee, elbow, hip, ankle, wrist, hand, and shoulder.
The Difference Between The Symptoms Of Gout And Pseudogout
Keep in mind that both gout and pseudogout have similar symptoms, and they appear suddenly.
Listed below are some of the symptoms that are common to both gout and pseudogout:
- Swelling
- Sudden and severe pain
- Redness
- Tenderness
- Warm feeling at the site of pain
Gout symptoms appear suddenly, and the severe pain can worsen for up to 12 hours. Also, the severity of the symptoms reduces over several days. The pain disappears in about 10 days or a week. Furthermore, 60 percent of people suffering from gout will experience another gout attack within a year.
The symptoms of pseudogout also appear suddenly, and they can stay the same for days or weeks. Also, in some people, the discomfort does not go away, or the pain may remain constant. Moreover, the pain due to pseudogout is like that caused by rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.
The Causes For Gout And Pseudogout
Gout is caused due to the condition called hyperuricemia, i.e., increased uric acid levels in the blood. Some of the causes of gout are listed below:
- The body produces too much uric acid
- Eating foods that are rich in purines
Pseudogout is caused by the formation of pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals in the joints.
