Epidemiology of calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis and basic calcium phosphate crystal arthropathy.

Calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition (CPPD) is common and mainly associates with increasing age and osteoarthritis (OA). Recent studies suggest that CPPD occurs as the result of a generalized articular predisposition and may also associate with low cortical bone mineral density. The epidemiology of basic calcium phosphate (BCP) crystal deposition is poorly understood. Although periarticular BCP crystal deposits occurs at all ages and in both sexes, intra-articular BCP crystal deposition tends to associate with increasing age and OA. Calcium pyrophosphate and BCP crystals frequently coexist in joints with OA.