The frequency and significance of articular chondrocalcinosis was studied in 86 cases of osteoarthritis (OA) with rapid destruction of the hip that underwent total arthroplasty. The occurrence of articular chondrocalcinosis was 3 times more frequent than in a matched control population without rheumatic complaints (32.5% vs 10.5%). In a matched group of control patients operated on for common OA of the hip, the frequency of articular chondrocalcinosis (18.6%) was higher than in the control patients but significantly lower than in the patients with rapid destruction of the hip. Fifty-five patients in each of the 3 groups were aged 70 years or more, and the frequency of articular chondrocalcinosis in those patients with rapid destruction of the hip rose to 45.4% compared to 13.7% for the control group (p less than 0.01) and 27.2% for the group with common OA of the hip (p less than 0.05).