Osteoarthropathy in idiopathic hemochromatosis.

Abstract

Almost half of the patients who have idiopathic hemochromatosis show characteristic roentgenographic features of arthritis involving the hands, wrists, hips and knees.Roentgenographically there are medullary cysts and joint space narrowing most marked in the metacarpophalangeal joints, and chondrocalcinosis affecting mainly the knees, pubic symphysis and triangular fibrocartilage of the wrists.The arthritic changes are probably related to synovial iron deposition, the cartilage calcification to calcium pyrophosphate deposition.Two new cases which illustrate the roentgenographic findings are reported.