High Rates of Degenerative Changes in the Lower Spine in Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease Compared to Degenerative Disc Disease
Authors' conclusion
CPPD is associated with more severe and progressive structural changes in the lower spine compared to DDD.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with CPPD or degenerative disc disease (DDD) with spinal conventional radiographs (CR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (mean age 74.4 vs 71 years; 20% vs 20.2% male)
- Participants
- 140 vs 99
- Exposure
- CPPD vs DDD
- CPPDn = 140
- DDDn = 99reference
- Outcome
- Axial skeleton changes: vacuum phenomena, disc calcification, endplate erosion, osteophytes, disc height changes, spondylolisthesis
Methodological details2 independent readers, CR and MRI
- 2 independent readers
- CR and MRI
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Radiographic spinal changes (CR)
Disc calcification
all P ≤ 0.002
Osteophytes
Erosions
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
CR follow-up duration
P = 0.03
Lumbar disc calcification at follow-up
P = 0.01
| Outcome | CPPD | DDD | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erosive changes in thoracic spine at follow-up | 6.8% | 0.6% | P = 0.02 |
Progression of endplate erosions and osteophytes at follow-up CR
- Significant progression in both groups (29 CPPD, 46 DDD with follow-up)
- P ≤ 0.02
Original publication
High Rates of Degenerative Changes in the Lower Spine in Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease Compared to Degenerative Disc Disease. J Rheumatol. Published 1 February 2026. doi:10.
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