Paget’s disease is a condition that results in the overgrowth of bone. It can occur in any bone, most commonly affecting the pelvis, hip, and skull.
In Paget’s disease, the cells that produce new bone (osteoblasts) become abnormally active, causing the formation of too much new bone.
This excess bone is weak and is susceptible to fractures. Paget’s disease most often affects people over age 50 and is more common in women than men.
What is Paget’s Disease?
Paget’s disease of the bone is a long-term chronic bone disorder. Paget’s disease can cause pain, deformity, and loss of function in affected bones. In severe cases, it can lead to paralysis, heart failure, or death.
Paget’s disease of the bone commonly occurs in the pelvis, spine, the tibia (shinbone), the femur (thighbone), and the skull, causing bone changes.
There is no cure for Paget’s disease, but prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases and treatment can help to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
What Are The Symptoms Of Paget’s Disease?
The most common symptom of severe Paget’s disease is a pain in the affected bone. The pain may be constant or come and go, and it may worsen with activity. Other symptoms may include:
- Bone deformity
- Bone pain
- Loss of function in the affected bone
- Fractures
- Arthritis
- Hip pain
- Bone turnover
- Enlarged bones
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis
When Paget’s disease affects the skull, other symptoms can develop, depending on the bone affected. These symptoms include headaches and hearing loss.
If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor. They may be caused by Paget’s disease or another condition. Only a doctor can diagnose Paget’s disease.
What Causes Paget’s Disease?
The exact cause of Paget’s disease is unknown. However, it is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Affected bones are more prone to breaking, and the extra blood vessels in these deformed bones cause them to bleed more frequently.
In addition, researchers are looking into how certain viruses can cause the disease in people who already have Paget’s disease risk factors.
People with certain genes are more likely to develop Paget’s disease, but the condition does not occur unless these genes are triggered by an outside factor. It is unclear what this trigger might be.
How Is Paget’s Disease Diagnosed?
Paget’s disease is usually diagnosed based on symptoms and a physical examination. X-rays, bone scans, and blood tests may also be used to diagnose the condition.
What Are The Complications Of Paget’s Disease?
Paget’s disease can lead to several complications, including:
Fractures
The excess bone produced in Paget’s disease is weak and susceptible to fractures.
Deformity
The abnormal growth of bone can lead to deformities, such as bowed legs or a curved spine.
Arthritis
Paget’s disease often affects the joints near the affected bones, causing pain and stiffness.
Nerve Damage
The abnormal growth of bone can put pressure on nerves, leading to pain, numbness, or paralysis.
Cancer
In rare cases, Paget’s disease can lead to a type of bone cancer called osteosarcoma.
How Is Paget’s Disease Treated?
There is no cure for Paget’s disease, but treatment can help relieve symptoms and prevent complications. Effective ways of treating Paget’s disease include:
Pain Relief
Pain medications, such as acetaminophen or NSAIDs, can help to relieve pain caused by Paget’s disease.
Surgery
In some cases, surgery may be necessary to repair fractures or correct deformities.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy can help to relieve pain and stop the progression of Paget’s disease.
Bisphosphonates
These drugs can slow the rate of bone growth and reduce the risk of fractures.
Calcitonin
This drug can help to relieve pain and slow the rate of bone growth.
Paget’s disease is a chronic condition that often requires lifelong treatment. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
What Are The Long-Term Outlook And Risks For Someone With Paget’s Disease?
Paget’s disease is a chronic condition that often requires lifelong treatment. The long-term outlook for people with Paget’s disease is generally good, but the condition can lead to serious complications in some cases.
Is Paget’s Disease Passed Down Through Generations?
Paget’s disease of the breast is not a hereditary condition. However, there is some evidence that suggests there may be a genetic component to the disease.
Researchers have found that women with certain genetic mutations (BRCA1 and BRCA2) are more likely to develop Paget’s disease than women without these mutations.
Additionally, family history is a risk factor for developing Paget’s disease. Women with close relatives (mother, sister, daughter) who have had Paget’s disease are more likely to develop the condition themselves.
While Paget’s disease is not directly inherited, these findings suggest that there may be a genetic predisposition to the condition.
Paget’s Disease Causes That Aren’t Hereditary
The bone disorder is thought to emerge in people without genetic markers for Paget’s disease after a “slow virus” infection that goes undetected in the body for many years.
Respiratory infections, measles, and meningitis are all viral infections linked to the development of Paget’s disease. Slow virus infections have a long incubation period, are asymptomatic, and can resurface from latency if the person develops a health problem that compromises the immune system.
