CPPD crystal deposition disease as a cause of unrecognised pyrexia.

We describe three cases of CPPD crystal deposition disease in elderly patients whose main symptom was fever. Misdiagnosis of such cases is possible because of the similarity of the clinical picture to that of septic fever. The probable mechanisms causing the fever are discussed. There was spectacular improvement in these patients after a high dose of oral colchicine and loperamide and no relapse was observed during the long term administration of colchicine in a conservative dose together with supplementary magnesium.