Paget's disease of bone

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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

In most cases, Paget's disease of bone progresses slowly. The disease can be managed effectively in nearly all people. Possible complications include:

  • Fractures. Bones affected by Paget's disease are large and dense, but also weak and brittle. This makes them more prone to fractures. More blood vessels are created in these deformed bones, so they bleed more during repair surgeries.
  • Osteoarthritis. Misshapen bones can increase the amount of stress on nearby joints, which can cause osteoarthritis.
  • Heart failure. Unusually extensive Paget's disease may force your heart to work harder to pump blood to the affected areas of your body. In people with pre-existing heart disease, this increased workload can lead to heart failure.
  • Bone cancer. Bone cancer occurs in less than 1 percent of people with Paget's disease.
References
  1. Facts a new patient needs to know about Paget's disease of bone. National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases: National Resource Center. http://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/bone/pagets/default.asp. Accessed May 26, 2010.
  2. Roodman GD. Paget's disease of bone. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/203002646-3/1004517503/1492/963.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50273-1_12206. Accessed May 26, 2010.
  3. Paget's disease of bone. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00076. Accessed May 26, 2010.
  4. Mercier LR. Paget's disease of the bone. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/203002646-3/1004517503/2088/470.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00025-3--sc0010_9669. Accessed May 26, 2010.
  5. Kelepouris N. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of Paget disease of bone. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 27, 2010.
  6. Lane NE. Paget's disease of bone. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: WB Saunders Co.; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/203002646-3/0/1807/698.html?tocnode=55733939&fromURL=698.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10092-0--s0210_3402. Accessed May 26, 2010.
  7. Seton M. Treatment of Paget disease of bone. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 27, 2010.
DS00485 Aug. 12, 2010

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