Crystals in body fluids
This article deals with crystals in body fluids.
Crystals
Joint crystals
Types:[1]
- Gout = needle-shaped, negatively birefringent, yellow when aligned.
- Pseudogout = rhomboid-shaped, positively birefringent, blue when aligned.
Notes:
- Pseudogout also known as CPPD = calcium pyrophosphate dehydrogenase.
- Memory device: ABC+ = aligned blue is calcium & cuboid - positively birefringent.
Urine crystals
Types - morphology:
- Envelope shape (calcium oxalate).
- Diamond shape (uric acid).
- Coffin-lid shape (struvite).
- Hexagonal shape (cysteine).
Notes:
- Memory devices:
- Diamonds are see-through; ergo, uric acid stones not seen on KUB.
- Calcium oxalate = envelope, uric acid = diamond.
- Uric acid crystals: usually dissolve in formalin... but do not dissolve in alcohol.[2]
- Calcium oxalate crystals are seen in the context of ethylene glycol poisoning.[3]
Diseases
Gout
Main article: Gout
Pseudogout
Main article: Chondrocalcinosis
See also
References
- ↑ Yeung, J.C.; Leonard, Blair J. N. (2005). The Toronto Notes 2005 - Review for the MCCQE and Comprehensive Medical Reference (2005 ed.). The Toronto Notes Inc. for Medical Students Inc.. pp. RH6. ISBN 978-0968592854.
- ↑ WG. 8 January 2010.
- ↑ Saukko, Pekka; Knight, Bernard (2004). Knight's Forensic Pathology (3rd ed.). A Hodder Arnold Publication. pp. 589. ISBN 978-0340760444.
- ↑ URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001458/. Accessed on: 28 October 2011.