Association Between Vascular Calcifications on Joint Radiographs and Calcium Pyrophosphate Crystal Arthritis: A Medical Records Review Study.

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies have shown an association between chondrocalcinosis (CC) and vascular calcifications (VCs). This study aimed to investigate the association of VCs detected on joint radiographs (XRs) of older patients diagnosed with calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) arthritis compared with a control group with osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS

A medical records review study of joint radiographs (knee and wrist) was conducted. CPP crystal arthritis was diagnosed based on at least 1 documented episode of arthritis with synovial fluid analysis positive for CPP crystals or imaging showing CC at 1 or more sites, with no alternative inflammatory arthritis diagnosis. The control group comprised patients with OA and no CC, matched 1:1 for age and sex. All participants were over 60 years of age. XRs were reviewed for CC, OA, and VCs at the affected joint by 2 independent observers.

RESULTS

A total of 98 patients were enrolled in both the CPP arthritis group and the OA group. VCs adjacent to the affected joint were detected in 69 patients of the CPP group and 19 patients of the control group (70.4% vs 19.4%, p < 0.001). Among patients aged 60 to 80 years, the presence of VCs on XRs was highly indicative of CPP, demonstrating a specificity of 89.2% (95% confidence interval: 79.1%-95.6%). In the CPP group, patients with VCs had a significantly higher prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

The detection of VCs on XRs was strongly associated with CPP crystal arthritis. The presence of VCs may further serve as a biomarker for an increased burden of CV comorbidities.