Paget’s Disease
What is Paget’s Disease of Bone?
Paget’s Disease, or osteitis deformans as Sir James
Paget described
it in 1877, is a chronic bone disorder which occurs when
the normal process of bone remodelling goes out of control,
resulting in the formation of new abnormally structured
bone.
Excessive bone breakdown and formation makes bone dense
but fragile. These processes may occur in one or many parts
of the skeleton and can result in weakened, enlarged or
misshapen
bones, which may be painful, press on neighbouring nerves
or fracture easily. Enlargement of the skull with varying
degrees
of deafness is common and when the long bones of the leg
are
involved, bowing deformity may occur. Joints also become
involved
because of the unequal stresses imposed by the bent bones.
It is usually a very slowly progressive disorder.
Paget’s Disease - some facts
- 1 in 20 of the older population of this country suffers
from Paget’s disease.
- In some areas this can be as high as 1 in 12 of people
over the age of 40!
- Paget’s disease is a severe, crippling bone disease
for which there is no cure and no known cause.
- Paget’s disease was discovered in the UK during
Queen Victoria’s reign and we can boast to having
many of the world’s leading doctors and scientific
experts, but their hands are tied.
- In the USA, millions of dollars are being invested
by the government on research into Paget’s disease.
- The UK government has no programme for funding Paget’s
disease research.
Information Courtesy of:
The National Association for the Relief of Pagets Disease
323 Manchester Road,
Walkden,
Worsley,
Manchester,
M28 3HH
Tel. No: 0161 7994646
Fax No: 0161 7996511
Email: director@paget.org.uk
For Further information visit the website
www.paget.org.uk
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