Paget’s disease

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X-ray

Osteitis deformans

Drug therapy is aimed at suppressing bone breakdown. Currently, there are several classes of medications that inhibit bone resorption that are used in the treatment of Paget's disease. These include: bisphosphonates, calcitonin, and plicamycin.

The bisphosphonates are the first-line treatment and include the following medications: etidronate (Didronel), alendronate (Fosamax), pamidronate (Aredia), tiludronate (Skelid), and risedronate (Actonel). The Calcitonin class includes intranasal (Miacalcin) and subcutaneous (Calcimar) forms. Plicamycin (Mithracin) may also be prescribed. Analgesics or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) may be given for pain.

Localized Paget's disease requires no treatment, if there are no symptoms and no evidence of active disease. Orthopedic surgery may be required to correct a specific deformity in severe cases.

Paget Foundation

120 Wall St., Suite 1602

New York, NY 10005-4001

Toll-free: 800-23-PAGET

Ph: 212-509-5335

Website: http://www.paget.org

E-mail: PagetFdn@aol.com

Disease activity and symptoms can generally be controlled with current medications. Malignant changes of bone occur in less than 1% of people affected.

• Deafness
• Spinal stenosis
• Deformities
• Bone fractures
• Paraplegia
• Cardiac failure

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms of Paget's disease develop.

Review Date: 02/27/2006
Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.