ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines current understanding of the pathophysiology of crystal
arthritis. We focus first on the cellular response to monosodium urate (MSU)
crystals, and propose a unifying model of gout involving the differential role of
mononuclear phagocytes in regulation of the inflammatory response. In this
context we then discuss the inflammatory responses to calcium pyrophosphate
and basic calcium phosphate (BCP) crystals.
