Disease and Condition

Paget’s Disease
What is it?
Paget's disease is a disorder that causes abnormal formation of bone tissue, resulting in enlarged, deformed and weaker bones. Named for Sir James Paget, the disease most commonly occurs in the spine, skull, pelvis, thighs and lower legs.

Who gets it?
Paget's disease is usually diagnosed in people over 40 years of age and becomes more common as people get older. The disease tends to run in families. In the Unites States, it is found more frequently in the northern states, with up to 3% of all people over 55 years of age are affected with the disease.

What causes it?
While the exact cause of Paget's disease is unknown, new research suggests it may be caused by a slow virus infection that is present for many years before symptoms appear.

What are the symptoms?
In mild cases, a person may not know they have Paget’s disease because they have no symptoms. In more advance cases, bone pain is the most common symptom with the pain generally worsening at night. The patient may have joint pain or stiffness if there is damage to the cartilage of the joints, which may lead to arthritis. When Paget's disease affects the skull or spine, it puts pressure on nerves, which can cause headaches, hearing loss, neck pain, or blindness. Increased head size, bowing of the legs, or curvature of the spine may occur in advanced cases. Fractures may happen spontaneously or be caused by accidents, and healing is difficult because the bones are weak.

How is it diagnosed?
Paget’s disease is often diagnosed when a patient is having x-rays taken for a medical condition unrelated to the disease. An x-ray will show increased bone density and thickening, bowing and enlargement of the bones. A blood test will further reveal high levels of alkaline phospatase, a substance involved in the bone formation process.

What is the treatment?
Paget's disease is most often treated with Bisphosphonate drugs combined with additional drugs to lessen bone pain. Bisphosphonates bind directly to bone minerals and inhibit bone loss by reducing the action of bone cells that normally degrade the bone. Various surgical treatments can also be used to treat skeletal conditions that occur in patients with Paget's disease.

Self-care tips
Unfortunately, there is no cure for Paget's disease. However, drug therapy combined with exercise and proper weight control will lessen symptoms and slow the progress of the disease. The outlook for patients diagnosed with Paget’s disease is generally good, especially if treatment starts before major changes in the bones take place. Symptoms progress slowly, and the disease generally does not spread to normal bones.

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