Bone and joint symptoms in Paget's disease

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rheumatology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Paget's disease of bone is a chronic disorder characterized by abnormal bone remodeling.
• Symptoms vary widely, including localized bone pain, degenerative joint disease, and fractures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the basis of symptoms in Paget's disease of bone.
• To evaluate the long-term results of various treatments for Paget's disease of bone.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 50 patients diagnosed with Paget's disease of bone.
• Analysis of presenting symptoms, including bone pain and degenerative joint disease.
• Assessment of treatment outcomes for calcitonin, surgical, and other medical interventions.

Main Results:

• 48% of patients presented with localized bone pain, 34% with degenerative joint disease.
• 50% developed symptomatic osteoarthritis of the hip; half showed radiological changes similar to idiopathic OA.
• Calcitonin provided long-term relief for bone pain in 15 patients, but not for arthritic symptoms in 14 patients.

Conclusions:

• Clinical presentation of Paget's disease of bone is diverse, encompassing bone pain and osteoarthritis.
• Calcitonin is effective for bone pain but not for arthritic manifestations in Paget's disease.
• Optimal treatment requires careful clinical evaluation tailored to the patient's specific symptoms.