Paget disease is a disorder that involves abnormal bone destruction and regrowth. This results in deformity of the affected bones.
Osteitis deformans
The cause of Paget disease is unknown. It may be due to genetic factors, but also could be due to a viral infection early in life or hypersensitivity to vitamin D.
The disease occurs worldwide, but is more common in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The disease has become much less common over the last 50 years.
In people with Paget disease, there is an abnormal breakdown of bone tissue in specific areas. This is followed by abnormal bone formation. The new area of bone is larger, but weaker. The new bone is also filled with new blood vessels.
The affected bone may only be in one or two areas of the skeleton, or in many different bones in the body. It more often involves bones of the arms, collarbones, legs, pelvis, spine, and skull.
Most people with the condition have no symptoms. Paget disease is often diagnosed when an x-ray is done for another reason. It may also be discovered when trying to find the cause of high blood calcium levels.
If they do occur, symptoms may include:
Not all people with Paget disease need to be treated. People who may not need treatment include those who:
Paget disease is commonly treated when:
Drug therapy helps prevent further bone breakdown and formation. Currently, there are several classes of drugs used to treat Paget disease. These include:
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also be given for pain. In severe cases, orthopedic surgery may be needed to correct a deformity or fracture.
Laetitia Michou practices in Quebec, Canada. Michou is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Paget's Disease of Bone. She is also highly rated in 5 other conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Paget's Disease of Bone, Dupuytren Contracture, Fibromatosis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).
Luigi Gennari practices in Siena, Italy. Gennari is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Paget's Disease of Bone. He is also highly rated in 3 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Paget's Disease of Bone, Osteoporosis, Cushing's syndrome, Menopause, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
Stuart Ralston practices in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Ralston is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Paget's Disease of Bone. He is also highly rated in 11 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Paget's Disease of Bone, Osteoporosis, Hypophosphatemia, X-Linked Hypophosphatemia, and Oophorectomy.
People with this condition may benefit from taking part in support groups for people with similar experiences.
Most of the time, the condition can be controlled with medicines. A small number of people may develop a cancer of the bone called osteosarcoma. Some people will need joint replacement surgery.
Complications may include:
Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of Paget disease.
Summary: Paget's disease of the bone is a skeletal disorder which results in increased and disorganized bone remodeling, leading to dense but fragile and expanding bones. The identified genetic causes of Paget's disease of bone only explain why bone is destroyed, but not why the bone formed in its place is abnormal. Current treatment for people with Paget's disease of the bone is limited to patients with b...
Summary: Paget's disease of the bone (PDB) is a skeletal disorder with a strong genetic component which can be associated with various complications such as pain, bone deformity, arthritis and deafness. Recent advances in understanding the genetic determinants of PDB offer the prospect of developing a genetic profiling test which can be offered to people with a parent or sibling with PDB to determine how l...
Published Date: October 18, 2021
Published By: Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology and Health Care Ethics, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Geiger CD, Devereaux MW, Hart D. Disorders of bones, joints, ligaments, and meninges. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 104.
Ralston SH. Paget disease of bone. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 233.
Singer FR. Paget's disease of bone. In: Jameson JL, De Groot LJ, de Kretser DM, et al, eds. Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 72.