Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Deposition Disease

Development and deposition of amorphous or crystalline inorganic phases, a process referred to as mineralization, occur in a large numbers of biological systems. In the human body, physiological mineralization is vital for the development and maintenance of the skeleton. However, crystals are often formed and accumulated in various other sites of the body as a result of metabolic disorders. Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate, is among the most common types of pathological deposits and the condition associated with the presence of such crystals is referred to as calcium pyrophosphate (dihydrate) deposition disease. This chapter discusses the current knowledge regarding calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease and further focuses on the characterization methods and the in vitro model systems for studying the conditions under which these crystals develop