Pagets disease
Paget’s Disease of bone is a disease that causes affected bones to become enlarged and mis-shapen. Our bones are living tissue, and our bodies are constantly breaking down old bone and replacing it with new bone. In Paget’s disease, however, old bone is broken down and replaced at a faster rate than normal. The new bone is larger and weaker than normal bone.
Does Paget’s disease affect all the bones in the body?
No, Paget’s disease may occur in one bone or in several bones, but it does not affect the entire skeleton. Paget’s disease can occur in any bone in the body, but it is most common in the pelvis, spine, skull, and leg bones. The disease does not spread from affected bones to normal bones.
Is Paget’s disease common?
Although it is the second most common bone disease after osteoporosis, Paget’s disease is still uncommon. The disease is more common in older people and those of Northern European heritage. Men are more likely than women to have the disease.
How do you get Paget’s disease?
Scientists do not know for sure what causes Paget’s disease. In some cases, the disease runs in families, and two genes have been identified that make people more likely to develop Paget’s disease. In most cases, however, scientists suspect that other factors play a role. For example, scientists are studying the possibility that a slow-acting virus may cause Paget’s disease.
Does Paget’s disease get worse?
Paget’s disease does not affect everyone in the same way. Some people have a very mild case with few or no symptoms. Other people have symptoms and may develop complications over time if the disease is not treated.
What are the symptoms of Paget’s disease?
Pain may be a symptom, especially among people with more advanced Paget’s disease. Affected bones also can become enlarged, mis-shapen, and more fragile and likely to break. Mis-shapen bones tend to be most noticeable in the legs, skull, and spine.
What complications might develop as a result of Paget’s disease?
Over time, Paget’s disease may lead to other medical conditions, including arthritis, headaches, hearing loss, and nervous system problems, depending on which bones are affected. On very rare occasions, Paget’s disease is associated with the development of osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. Less than one percent of patients have this complication.
How is Paget’s disease diagnosed?
Paget’s disease is almost always diagnosed by x-ray, although it may be discovered using one of two other tests: an alkaline phosphatase blood test or a bone scan. Paget’s disease is often found by accident when a person undergoes one of these tests for another reason.
In other cases, a person experiences problems that lead his or her physician to order these tests. If Paget’s disease is first suggested by an alkaline phosphatase blood test or bone scan, the physician usually orders an x-ray to verify the diagnosis. A bone scan is typically used to identify all the bones in the skeleton that are affected by the disease.
Should relatives of a person with Paget’s disease get tested?
Because Paget’s disease can be hereditary, some experts recommend that the brothers, sisters, and children of people with Paget’s disease talk to their doctor about having an alkaline phosphatase blood test every 2 to 3 years after age 40. Paget’s disease is rare in people under 40.
How is Paget’s disease treated?
There are a number of medications that can stop or slow down the progression of the disease and reduce pain and other symptoms. These medications fall into two categories: bisphosphonates and calcitonin.
What else should people with Paget’s disease do to protect their health?
There is no special diet to prevent or help treat Paget’s disease. However, everyone over age 50, including people with Paget’s disease, should get 1,200 mg of calcium and at least 400 International Units of vitamin D every day to maintain a healthy skeleton. People over the age of 70 need to increase their vitamin D intake to 600 IU.
Specific requirements for individuals with Paget’s disease or other metabolic bone diseases have not been determined. Some doctors may recommend increased vitamin D because low levels are common in older people.
Regular exercise also is important for people with Paget’s disease to maintain overall bone health as well as to avoid weight gain and keep joints mobile. However, you should talk to your physician before starting an exercise program to make sure the activities you plan will not put undue stress on the bones affected by Paget’s disease. For example, running may not be wise for a person whose legs are affected by Paget’s disease.
