Paget's Disease of Bone

Osteitis deformans

Special Characteristics

• Bones grow too large and weak
• Most commonly found in the spine, skull, pelvis, and legs
• More common in males than females and older than younger

Causes

• Disruption in the process of new bone removing and replacing old bone
• Exact cause unknown, though scientists have found a correlation between Paget's Disease of Bone and select genotypes

Signs and Symptoms

• Pain
• Enlarged bones
• Broken bones
• Damaged cartilage in joints
• May result in bone growth deformities, such as bowed legs

Diagnosis

• X-rays and blood tests
• Presence on elevated alkaline phosphatase

Treatment

• Medicines and surgery
• Biophosphonates help to strengthen bones weakened by osteoporosis
• Maintaining a healthy habit of exercise and diet

References

“Cotton Wool” Appearance of Paget's Disease. (n.d.). The New England Journal of Medicine. Retrieved October 13, 2013, from http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMicm0912945

Bowed legs from Paget's disease. (n.d.). WebMD - Better information. Better health.. Retrieved October 13, 2013, from http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/bowed-legs-from-pagets-diseasePaget's Disease of Bone: MedlinePlus. (n.d.). National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health. Retrieved October 13, 2013, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pagetsdiseaseofbone.htmlPaget's disease of bone - MayoClinic.com. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved October 13, 2013, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pagets-disease-of-bone/DS00485