What's the treatment for Paget's disease of the bone?
Paget's disease is most often treated with bisphosphonate drugs combined with additional drugs to lessen bone pain. Bisphosphonates bind directly to bone minerals and inhibit bone loss by reducing the action of bone cells that normally degrade the bone. Various surgical treatments can also be used to treat skeletal conditions that occur in patients with
Paget's disease.
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 biphosphonates are the first-line treatment. The bisphosphonate group of drugs are drugs that bind directly to bone minerals because of their specific chemical structure. Once bound to the bone, these drugs inhibit bone loss by reducing the action of bone cells that normally degrade bone during the remodeling process. Bisphosphonates 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 (Mitrhracin) may also be prescribed. Analgesics or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) may be given for pain.
The hormone calcitonin, which is made naturally by the thyroid gland, is used to treat Paget's disease. This compound rapidly decreases the amount of bone breakdown or loss (resorption). After approximately two to three weeks of treatment with calcitonin, bone pain lessens and new bone tissue forms. Calcitonin is commonly given as daily injections for one month, followed by three injections each week for several additional months. The total dose of calcitonin given to an individual depends upon the amount of disease present and how well the individual's condition responds to the treatment.
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. In patients with severe arthritis of the hip or knee, a joint replacement operation can be beneficial. Notably, in addition to the malformation of bone tissue caused by this condition, there are greater numbers of blood vessels that also form in the diseased bone, making surgery to bones affected with Paget's disease more difficult. |
More information on Paget's disease of the bone
What is Paget's disease of the bone? - Paget's disease of the bone is a chronic bone disorder in which bones become enlarged and deformed. Paget's disease causes abnormal bone growth.
What causes Paget's disease of the bone? - The exact cause of Paget's disease of the bone is unknown, but it is suggested to be due to a slow viral infection of bone and may include a heredity factor.
Risk factors for Paget's disease of the bone - Age and heredity are the only known risk factors for Paget's disease. Men and women are affected at similar rates.
Complications of Paget's disease of the bone - Complications of Paget's disease of the bone include osteoarthritis, fractures, nerve compression, heart failure, bone cancer (osteogenic sarcoma).
Symptoms of Paget's disease of the bone - Paget's disease usually produces no symptoms, although bone pain, bone enlargement, or bone deformity may occur.
How is Paget's disease of the bone diagnosed? - A diagnosis of Paget's disease can be made when higher than normal levels of a chemical called alkaline phosphatase are found in the blood.
What is the treatment for Paget's disease? - Paget's disease is most often treated with bisphosphonate drugs combined with additional drugs to lessen bone pain. |
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