Paget's disease of bone
Overview
Paget's (PAJ-its) disease of
bone interferes with your body's normal recycling process, in which new bone
tissue gradually replaces old bone tissue. Over time, bones can become fragile
and misshapen. The pelvis, skull, spine and legs are most commonly affected.
The risk of Paget's disease
of bone increases with age and if family members have the disorder. However,
for reasons unknown to doctors, the disease has become less common over the
past several years and is less severe when it does develop. Complications can
include broken bones, hearing loss and pinched nerves in your spine.
Bisphosphonates — the
medications used to strengthen bones weakened by osteoporosis — are the
mainstay of treatment. Surgery may be necessary if complications occur.
Symptoms
Most people who have Paget's
disease of bone have no symptoms. When symptoms occur, the most common
complaint is bone pain.
Because this disease causes
your body to generate new bone faster than normal, the rapid remodeling
produces bone that's less organized and weaker than normal bone, which can lead
to bone pain, deformities and fractures.
The disease might affect
only one or two areas of your body or might be widespread. Your signs and
symptoms, if any, will depend on the affected part of your body.
Pelvis. Paget's disease of
bone in the pelvis can cause hip pain.
Skull. An overgrowth of bone
in the skull can cause hearing loss or headaches.
Spine. If your spine is
affected, nerve roots can become compressed. This can cause pain, tingling and numbness
in an arm or leg.
Leg. As the bones weaken,
they may bend — causing you to become bowlegged. Enlarged and misshapen bones
in your legs can put extra stress on nearby joints, which may cause
osteoarthritis in your knee or hip.
Talk to your doctor if you
have:
Pain in your bones and
joints
Tingling and weakness in an
extremity
Bone deformities
Unexplained hearing loss,
especially if it's only on one side
Causes
The cause of Paget's disease
of bone is unknown. Scientists suspect a combination of environmental and
genetic factors contribute to the disease. Several genes appear to be linked to
getting the disease.
Some scientists believe
Paget's disease of bone is related to a viral infection in your bone cells, but
this theory is controversial.
Risk factors
Factors that can increase
your risk of Paget's disease of bone include:
Age.
People older than 50 are most likely to develop the disease.
Sex.
Men are more commonly affected than are women.
National origin.
Paget's disease of bone is more common in England, Scotland, central Europe and
Greece — as well as countries settled by European immigrants. It's uncommon in
Scandinavia and Asia.
Family history. If
you have a relative who has Paget's disease of bone, you're more likely to develop
the condition.
Complications
In most cases, Paget's
disease of bone progresses slowly. The disease can be managed effectively in
nearly all people. Possible complications include:
Fractures and
deformities. Affected bones break more easily, and extra
blood vessels in these deformed bones cause them to bleed more during repair
surgeries. Leg bones can bow, which can affect your ability to walk.
Osteoarthritis.
Misshapen bones can increase the amount of stress on nearby joints, which can
cause osteoarthritis.
Neurological problems.
When Paget's disease of bone occurs in an area where nerves pass through the
bone, such as the spine and skull, the overgrowth of bone can compress and
damage the nerve, causing pain, weakness or tingling in an arm or leg or
hearing loss.
Heart failure. In
severe cases, your heart may have to work harder to pump blood to the affected
areas of your body. Sometimes, this increased workload can lead to heart
failure.
Bone cancer.
Bone cancer occurs in up to 1% of people with Paget's disease of bone.
Jan Ricks Jennings, MHA,
LFACHE
Senior Consultant
Senior Management
Resources, LLC
JanJenningsBlog.Blogspot.com
724.733.0509 Office
412.913.0636 Cell
July 13, 2022
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