Laboratory investigations in pseudogout patients and controls.

Nine biochemical laboratory tests and parathyroid and thyroid stimulating hormone levels from 36 symptomatic pseudogout patients were compared with results from 29 control subjects (spouses of patients). We found no significant differences in mean laboratory test values between patients and controls, although the patient and control group were not identical for male:female composition. We also found no differences in the number of laboratory abnormalities between the younger and older pseudogout patients. Elevated immunoreactive parathyroid hormone levels, hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia accounted for almost 30% of the abnormal laboratory tests in the pseudogout patients. Laboratory abnormalities were frequent in both patients and controls.