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Medical Author:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Catherine Burt Driver, MD

Catherine Burt Driver, MD

Catherine Burt Driver, MD, is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Driver is a member of the American College of Rheumatology. She currently is in active practice in the field of rheumatology in Mission Viejo, Calif., where she is a partner in Mission Internal Medical Group.

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In this Article

• What is Paget's disease?
• What causes Paget's disease?
• What are Paget's disease symptoms?
• How is Paget's disease diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for Paget's disease?
• What is the prognosis for Paget's disease?
• Who discovered Paget's disease?
• Where can I find more information about Paget's disease?
• Paget's Disease At A Glance
• Patient Comments: Paget's Disease - Symptoms
• Find a local Rheumatologist in your town
• Paget's Disease Index

Paget's disease is diagnosed based on the X-ray appearance. Paget's disease might also be detected with other imaging tests, such as a bone scan, MRI scan, and CT scan. Alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme that comes from bone, is frequently elevated in the blood of people with Paget's disease as a result of the abnormal bone turnover of actively remodeling bone. This blood test is also referred to as the serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) and is used to monitor the results of treatment of Paget's disease.

The bone scan is particularly helpful in determining the extent of the involvement of Paget's disease as it provides an image of the entire skeleton. Bone that is affected by Paget's disease can easily be identified with bone scanning images.

The treatment of Paget's disease is directed toward controlling the disease activity and managing its complications. When Paget's disease causes no symptoms and blood testing shows that the level of serum alkaline phosphatase is normal or minimally elevated, no treatment may be necessary. Bone pain can require anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or pain-relieving medications. Bone deformity can require supports such as heel lifts or specialized footwear. Surgical operations may be necessary for damaged joints, fractures, severely deformed bones, or when nerves are being pinched by enlarged bone. Prior to undergoing an operation on bone affected by Paget's disease, it is helpful to be treated with medications, such as bisphosphonates or calcitonin (Miacalcin), as this tends to diminish the risk of surgical complications, including bleeding.

The medical treatment of the bone of Paget's disease involves either medications called bisphosphonates or injectable calcitonin. These drugs are also used to treat certain patients with osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates are the mainstay of treatment. There are a number of these available that are taken by mouth, including alendronate (Fosamax), risedronate (Actonel), etidronate (Didronel), and tiludronate (Skelid), and that are administered intravenously, including pamidronate (Aredia) and zoledronate (Reclast). In general, oral bisphosphonates are taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with 8 ounces of water. They can cause irritation of the stomach and esophagus. Intravenous bisphosphonates can cause temporary muscle and joint pain but are not associated with irritation of the stomach or esophagus.