Paget's disease of bone
Paget's disease of bonedisrupts the normal cycle of bone renewal, causingbonesto become weakened and possibly deformed.
It's a fairly common condition in the UK, particularly in older people. It's rare in people under 50 years of age.
There are treatments that can help keep it under control for many years, but it can cause persistent pain and a range of other problems in some people.
This page covers:
Other types of Paget's disease
Paget's disease of bone can affect one or several bones. Commonly affected areas include the pelvis, spine and skull.
Symptoms can include:
But in many cases there are no symptoms and the condition is only found during tests carried out for another reason.
This is known as bone remodelling.
Two cells are responsible for this:
In Paget's disease of bone, something goes wrong with the osteoclast cells and they start to absorb boneat a much faster rate than usual.
The osteoblasts thentry to produce new bone more quickly, but the new bone is larger and weaker than normal.
It's not clear what triggers this,but you're at a higher risk if you have a family history of Paget's disease of bone. You may inherit a genetic fault that means you're much more likely to develop the condition.
There's currently no cure for Paget's disease of bone, but treatment can help relieve the symptoms.
If you don't have any symptoms, your doctor may suggest keeping an eye on your condition and delaying treatment until any problems occur.
The main treatments are:
Ensuring you get enough calcium and vitamin D can also help. Some people may need to take supplements.
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Paget's disease of bone can sometimes lead to further, potentially serious problems.
These include:
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In addition toPaget's disease of bone, there are several other types of Paget's disease.
These include:
The general term "Paget's disease" is sometimes used to refer to Paget's disease of bone.
Find out about Paget's disease of bone, a condition where the normal cycle of bone renewal and repair is disrupted.
Find out about the main symptoms of Paget's disease of bone, including bone pain, joint pain and deformities.
Find about the main tests used to diagnose Paget's disease of bone, including blood tests, X-rays and scans.
Find out about the main treatments for Paget's disease of bone, including medication, supportive therapies and surgery.
Find out about the main complications associated with Paget's disease of bone, including fractures, deformities and bone cancer.