CPPD 病因目前尚不清楚。该病的特征是关节透明软骨和纤维软骨中央区出现焦磷酸钙 (CPP) 晶体沉积。这些晶体通常发生于表型发生变化的关节软骨细胞外周基质中。[10]Rosenthal A, Ryan LM. Calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition diseases, pseudogout, and articular chondrocalcinosis. In: Koopman WJ, Moreland LW, eds. Arthritis and allied conditions. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2004:2373-2396.促进 CPPD 晶体形成的因素包括细胞外周基质结构和成分的变化和软骨细胞过度生产 CPPD 晶体的焦磷酸成分。[11]Ryan LM, Cheung HS, McCarty DJ. Release of pyrophosphate by normal mammalian articular hyaline and fibrocartilage in organ culture. Arthritis Rheum. 1981 Dec;24(12):1522-7.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6275863?tool=bestpractice.com[12]Bjelle A. Cartilage matrix in hereditary pyrophosphate arthropathy. J Rheumatol. 1981 Nov-Dec;8(6):959-64.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6276539?tool=bestpractice.com[13]Ryan LM, Kurup I, Rosenthal AK, et al. Stimulation of inorganic pyrophosphate elaboration by cultured cartilage and chondrocytes. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1989 Aug 1;272(2):393-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2546499?tool=bestpractice.com很可能是衰老或损伤引发软骨细胞表型变化,且可能通过转化生长因子-β 等因子进行调节。[14]Rosenthal AK, Cheung HS, Ryan LM. Transforming growth factor beta 1 stimulates inorganic pyrophosphate elaboration by porcine cartilage. Arthritis Rheum. 1991 Jul;34(7):904-11.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1647773?tool=bestpractice.com与 CPPD 有关的代谢性疾病相关原因尚不完全清楚。