eMedicine Specialties > Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation > Medical Diseases

Paget Disease: Treatment & Medication

Author: David Chow, MD, Medical Director, California Spine Center
Coauthor(s): Curtis W Slipman, MD, Director, University of Pennsylvania Spine Center; Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center; Debra Braverman, MD, Director of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Dec 18, 2008

Treatment

Rehabilitation Program

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy (PT) can play an important role in the treatment process and rehabilitation of patients with Paget's disease. PT can help to maintain or improve muscle strength, maintain joint ROM and flexibility, increase endurance, and avoid deconditioning.

Patients may have leg-length discrepancies as a result of fracture or deformity. The physical therapist can aid in correcting this problem by providing inserts or making appropriate shoe modifications. Functional fracture bracing may be useful with open reduction and internal fixation limb surgeries. The physical therapist typically completes gait and transfer training with the patient to ensure safety in using the assistive device. Ambulatory assistive devices, such as a cane or walker, can reduce the weight-bearing load and pain following these surgeries.

Modalities, such as superficial heat, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and massage, may be helpful for muscle pain, tenderness, and tightness. Proper bracing and spinal immobilization and support should be provided when warranted to decrease pain or in cases of spinal instability. Spinal orthoses can decrease pain associated with weight bearing, thus improving the patient's ability to participate in ambulatory activities and reducing effects related to immobility, such as muscle atrophy, bone loss, and cardiovascular deconditioning. Increased activity also decreases the patient's risk for developing skin breakdown or decubitus ulcers. Equally important, the patient's feeling of well-being often is improved with participation in physical activities.

Efforts to support and protect malaligned limbs, such as functional prosthetic bracing, are important. Aerobic exercise should be incorporated into PT or a home exercise program.

Functional ROM should be maintained in major joints. Examples of joint-specific measurements for functional ROM include the following:

  • ROM of the shoulder should allow for abduction of at least 90°, with adequate external rotation to touch the back of the head and internal rotation to touch the low back.
  • Forearm ROM should be adequate to allow a minimum of 45° of supination and pronation, with wrist flexion of 45° and extension of 30°.
  • Finger flexion should be within 1 inch of the palm.
  • Hip flexion should be at least 90°, with hip extension to at least neutral.
  • Knee flexion should be to 110°, with knee extension to at least neutral.
  • Ankle dorsiflexion should be to neutral.

Arthritic joint involvement with limited ROM may require modification of the therapy program. Spinal flexion exercises should be avoided to decrease the risk of anterior wedge compression fractures. Inpatient rehabilitation may be appropriate for patients with Paget's disease who have become deconditioned and are unable to be independent or care for themselves at home. Rehabilitation is required after total joint replacement, fracture repair, laminectomy, or other major surgery. Pain management and education regarding proper bracing are important. Gait and balance training also is necessary for ataxic and weak patients.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy (OT) may be indicated for patients with Paget's disease who need training in activities of daily living (ADL), especially those who undergo surgery for various pagetic-related conditions. The occupational therapist can advise patients in home modifications when necessary, to increase the patients' independence and safety with mobility. Patients may also require the use of adaptive equipment to perform their ADL. OT can work in conjunction with PT to maintain or improve muscle strength of the upper extremities, maintain flexibility and ROM, and prevent deconditioning.

Speech Therapy

Speech therapy may be indicated for patients who acquire speech and hearing deficits as a result of Paget's disease.

Medical Issues/Complications

Many potential complications are associated with Paget's disease.

Fractures

Incomplete stress fractures frequently occur in Paget's disease. Cortical stress fractures are common in the femur and tibia, with distinctive horizontal radiolucencies affecting the convex surface of the bone, in contrast to similar findings in osteomalacia on the concave aspects of the bone. Cartilaginous calluses, which do not mineralize fully in the fracture clefts, account for the relative radiolucency. The incomplete fissure fractures can extend into complete fractures.

Mild injuries may cause acute true pathologic fractures in weakened pagetic bone. Pathologic fractures are more common in women than in men. The most frequent site of these fractures is the femur, but fractures commonly occur in the tibia, humerus, spine, and pelvis. Femur fractures are most common in the subtrochanteric region, followed by the upper third of the femoral shaft and then the neck. Nonunion and refracture at the same sites are much more common, as developing calluses may be affected by Paget's disease. The rate of nonunion has been reported to be 40%.12 Biopsies of pathologic fractures may be recommended to rule out sarcoma.

Neoplasm

Sarcomatous degeneration of pagetic bone is a deadly complication. Pagetic sarcoma is malignant, and the course usually is rapid and fatal. Sarcomatous degeneration may occur in 5-10% of patients with extensive pagetic skeletal involvement. In less widespread involvement, osteosarcoma occurs in less than 1% of patients with Paget's disease.

Men are affected with sarcomatous degeneration slightly more frequently than are women. Peak incidence is in the seventh and eighth decades of life. The femur is the most commonly affected site, followed by the proximal humerus; however, no bone is exempt, including sites of previously healed fractures. Sarcomas appear to originate from the fibrotic substrate of pagetic bone, and the predominance of certain cells determines the diagnosis. Osteosarcoma is the most common type of pagetic sarcoma (50-60%), followed by fibrosarcoma (20-25%), chondrosarcoma (10%), and sarcoma of myeloid and mesenchymal elements. Sarcomatous bone destruction or osteolysis is more characteristic of pagetic sarcoma than osteosclerosis.

Other clinical and radiographic findings include increased pain with a progressive lytic lesion, an enlarging soft-tissue mass, bony spiculation, persistent fracture without healing, and cortical destruction. In 33% of cases, the presentation involves a pathologic fracture of an affected long bone. Giant cell tumors are benign and may arise from pagetic bone. They usually involve the facial bones and mandible, although other sites, such as the pelvis, may be affected in rare cases. Giant cell tumors commonly affect elderly patients. They share some characteristics of sarcomas, as they typically affect patients with widespread polyostotic Paget's disease and present as a soft-tissue mass with a lytic lesion.

The prognosis for patients with Paget's disease who have giant cell tumors usually is good. High doses of steroids have been shown to reduce tumor mass. Radiation and surgery also have been used to treat symptomatic giant cell tumors. Lymphomas, multiple myelomas, Hodgkin's disease, leukemias, and metastatic disease all have been found in association with Paget's disease but probably represent chance occurrences rather than true complications.

Neuromuscular syndromes

Acute spinal cord compression may occur from pathologic fractures, such as vertebral body compression fractures. Enlargement of the pedicle, lamina, or vertebral body from the pagetic process also may cause spinal cord injury. Likewise, nerve root or spinal nerve compromise may occur. Spinal cord compression is most frequent in the upper thoracic spine because of the small vertebral canal.

Spastic quadriplegia can result from platybasia. Basilar invagination or compression of posterior fossa structures may lead to cerebellar or brainstem compressive syndromes. The vertebrobasilar blood supply also may be compromised due to kinking of the blood vessels. Extradural fat ossification has been observed to be a cause of cauda equina syndrome.

Hydrocephalus can be a complication, albeit a rare one. Entrapment of cranial nerves by pagetic bone may result in the expected cranial nerve palsies. The most common of these is injury to the eighth cranial nerve (the vestibulocochlear nerve), with resultant impaired hearing and deafness. The hearing loss may be sensorineural, conductive, or mixed and may be caused by compression from pagetic bone involvement of the temporal bone and labyrinth. Structural abnormalities of the ossicles of the middle ear and toxic effects to the inner ear have been observed. The optic nerve may be the second most commonly affected cranial nerve. Sciatic nerve compression between an enlarged ischium and lesser trochanter of the femur in external rotation or between the ilium and the piriformis muscle in internal rotation also has been described.

Joint disease

Degenerative joint disease is associated with Paget's disease. The most commonly reported site of articular abnormality is the hip. The knee also is commonly affected. Degenerative joint disease of the hip associated with Paget's disease differs in appearance from primary degenerative joint disease. Osteophyte formation is not prominent. The frequency of joint-space narrowing of the hip in patients with Paget's disease varies in several studies from 50-96%.13 Joint space loss at the superior aspect of the hip articulation is the most common pattern, with a frequency of 80-85%. Acetabular involvement may cause either medial or axial joint space narrowing, especially if the femoral head also is affected. Acetabular protrusion may occur, causing hip pain that is aggravated by ambulation.

The pathophysiology of arthritic changes associated with Paget's disease is unknown. Enlargement of joints and altered biomechanics may cause abnormal stress across joints, giving rise to degenerative changes. Abnormal endochondral ossification that may compromise articular cartilage has been reported. For cases that require surgery, successful outcomes of total hip and knee arthroplasties have been reported. The glenohumeral joint also may be affected, impairing rotator cuff function. Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, pseudogout, Peyronie disease, and pigmented villonodular synovitis all have been found to coexist with Paget's disease, but no relationship has been proven. Hyperuricemia may cause clinical gout in some patients.

Cardiovascular abnormalities

Increased cardiac output has been observed in patients with widespread Paget's disease, those with at least 15% involvement of the skeleton. Left ventricular hypertrophy is an associated finding. Increased soft-tissue and pagetic bone vascularity has been implicated as a contributing factor. High-output congestive heart failure may occur, but it is rare. The condition has been reported only in patients with severe, widespread Paget's disease. Calcific aortic stenosis is 4 times more common in patients with Paget's disease, especially those with severe disease, than in individuals without Paget's disease. Calcifications may be produced by the turbulent blood flow across cardiac valves caused by increased cardiac output. Calcifications have been found in the interventricular septum, which may cause heart block and conduction abnormalities.

Retinal streaks and other associations

Angioid streaks of the retina have been found more commonly in patients with Paget's disease and are quite frequent in pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Angioid streaks are linear disruptions of the Bruch membrane, with proliferative connective tissue emerging through the defects. Hashimoto thyroiditis, Dupuytren contracture, chondrocalcinosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, and osteopetrosis all have been associated with Paget's disease.

Surgical Intervention

Surgery is indicated in cases of certain complications of Paget's disease.

Neoplasm

Amputation usually is the most appropriate treatment because of the aggressive behavior of this type of sarcoma, the typical late presentation in elderly patients. Amputation has been the most effective palliative or curative surgical management, especially with a spontaneous pathologic fracture. A localized long-bone lesion without metastases may be treated with preoperative chemotherapy, followed by wide tumor resection and limb-salvage procedure. Management of metastatic sarcomas with pathologic fractures may involve internal fixation and local irradiation as a palliative approach. Pagetic sarcomas have a less favorable prognosis than primary nonpagetic osteosarcomas. Chemotherapy regimens effective for nonpagetic sarcomas are ineffective against pagetic sarcomas.

Joint disease

Indications for surgery include unstable fractures and severe arthritis refractory to medical and physical therapy. Malalignment of major weight-bearing bones may be treated with functional bracing and antipagetic medications. Realignment of severe lower limb deformities may help reduce mechanical joint pain and restore function.

Joint replacement surgery may be indicated for end-stage joint disease if nonsurgical treatment fails to relieve pain adequately. Total hip replacement is the most common orthopedic surgery performed on patients with Paget's disease. The indication for total hip replacement is severe mechanical joint pain unrelieved by antipagetic medication. Thus, it is important to differentiate mechanical joint pain from pagetic bone pain. Flexible intramedullary fixation devices are preferred over plate and screw fixation, which is associated with increased risks of perioperative complications, such as acetabular protrusion, aseptic loosening, and varus deformity of the femoral components. Heterotopic ossification is a common complication.

Mechanical failure requiring revision of the operation occurred in 10-15% of patients in several studies; however, total hip arthroplasties have been quite successful in relieving pain and improving mobility, with good to excellent results in 75-85% of patients based on well-accepted scales of pain relief and function. Preoperative treatment with bisphosphonates or calcitonin reduces intraoperative bleeding by decreasing disease activity.9 Antipagetic medication should be started at least 6 weeks prior to elective surgery. Tibial and fibular osteotomies have been effective in correcting tibial varus deformities and in relieving knee and ankle pain associated with these deformities. The indication for a tibial osteotomy is severe joint pain unresponsive to medical treatment.

Patient education about delayed bone healing and a long rehabilitation process is important. Reinforcement about the importance of careful, prolonged, protected weight bearing should be provided because the pagetic bone is abnormal and weak. Complete immobilization should be avoided because of its association with osteopenia and increased risk for hyperkalemia and hypercalciuria.

Spinal disease

The most common cause of neurologic dysfunction from pagetic spinal stenosis is osseous compression from an enlarged vertebral body. Symptomatic pagetic spinal stenosis can be treated successfully with bisphosphonates and calcitonin.9 Surgical decompression rarely is needed. Decompressive laminectomies may be helpful for pagetic spinal stenosis and persistent mechanical pain unresponsive to nonsurgical treatment.

Consultations

Consultations sometimes are indicated for patients with Paget's disease. Because each patient has a unique combination of symptoms, the appropriate consultations may include any or all of the following:

  • Orthopedic surgeon for fractures, dislocations, and bony deformities
  • Neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon for spinal complications
  • Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist or neurologist for impaired hearing or cranial nerve palsies
  • Rheumatologist or endocrinologist for management of Paget's and joint disease
  • Cardiologist for evaluation of cardiac status, including the following:
    • Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)
    • High cardiac output
    • Calcific aortic stenosis
  • Ophthalmologist for the following conditions:
    • Optic atrophy
    • Angioid retinal streak
  • Hematologist oncologist
  • Radiation oncologist
  • Surgical oncologist for neoplastic complications
  • Radiologist for any of the following tests:
    • Radiologic films
    • Bone scanning
    • CT scanning
    • MR
  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist for any of the following:
    • Physical therapy
    • Occupational therapy
    • Speech therapy
    • Electrodiagnostic examination (electromyelogram [EMG]/nerve conduction study [NCS])
    • Evaluation for rehabilitation

Other Treatment

Secondary osteoarthritic pain may be reduced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or other nonnarcotic analgesics. In contrast, bone pain in Paget's disease typically responds poorly to these pain medications. Patients should receive 1000-1500 mg of calcium and at least 400 U of vitamin D daily. This recommendation is especially important in conjunction with bisphosphonate treatments.

With safer and more effective new drugs for Paget's disease, support has accumulated for earlier aggressive treatment with the goal of maintaining normal alkaline phosphatase levels.

Indications for drug treatment of Paget's disease are as follows: bone pain, osteolytic lesions, bony deformities, skull or spinal disease, weight-bearing bone involvement, neurologic or cardiac complications, preparation for orthopedic surgery (joint replacement anticipated at involved sites within 6 months), serum alkaline phosphatase or urine hydroxyproline levels greater than twice the upper limit of the reference range, immobilization, prevention of future complications, and hypercalcemia or hypercalciuria.

Seven prescription drugs currently have been approved and are available for treating Paget's disease in the United States (ie, etidronate, pamidronate, alendronate, tiludronate, risedronate, zoledronic acid, salmon calcitonin).14,15 Pamidronate and salmon calcitonin are administered parenterally. Human calcitonin is no longer available.

In the United States, ibandronate and olpadronate are potent new bisphosphonates not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Paget's disease. They may play a role in the future, depending on the results of clinical trials. (Ibandronate is approved by the FDA for the treatment of osteoporosis.)

Preliminary European studies have shown that a single 2-mg injection of ibandronate is capable of suppressing disease activity in patients with Paget's disease over a 12-month period.16 In patients in whom this was insufficient to suppress disease activity, application of a higher dose was sometimes more effective.

Olpadronate is chemically similar to pamidronate, with the nitrogen atom being converted to a tertiary amine by the addition of 2 methyl groups. Preliminary studies in Europe and South America have suggested that olpadronate may be useful in the treatment of Paget's disease.17

All bisphosphonates have poor absorption from the gut. Furthermore, they also combine with any calcium in the stomach, further inhibiting absorption. Thus, an oral bisphosphonate should not be ingested with food or any drink containing calcium.

Given the comparative, double-blinded studies performed in which bisphosphonates were compared with one another (ie, tiludronate vs etidronate, alendronate vs etidronate, risedronate vs etidronate), conclusions can be made regarding these medications for the treatment of Paget's disease.9,14,18,19,20

  • Etidronate was less effective than the other bisphosphonates in suppressing biochemical markers of disease activity. No significant difference was noted between the bisphosphonates with regard to bone pain.21
  • Oral tiludronate (400 mg/d for 12 wk), oral risedronate (30 mg/d for 2 mo), and intravenous pamidronate (3 infusions of 60 mg at 2-wk intervals or 6 infusions of 30 mg at weekly intervals) have each been shown to be effective and superior to etidronate.21 Etidronate should not be used as a first-line agent if the other bisphosphonates are available. Bisphosphonates should be used as first-line agents over salmon calcitonin.
  • Pain in pagetic bone is a definite indication for antipagetic treatment with bisphosphonates and/or calcitonin.
  • Patients who relapse can be re-treated effectively with potent bisphosphonates. The general consensus opinion is that re-treatment is indicated when continued relapse/persistence of disease or biochemical relapse occurs.
    • Continued relapse or persistence can be evidenced by pain, but it should be confirmed by objective evidence of continuing disease activity. In the absence of continuing disease activity, other sources of pain should be investigated.
    • Regarding biochemical relapse, in situations in which treatment was based on the presence of asymptomatic disease in a critical site, re-treatment must be based on biochemical criteria. No clinical trial evidence supports this base criterion. However, the general consensus opinion is that an increase of alkaline phosphatase of 25% above nadir (even if the total is still within the normal range) indicates significant relapse.
    • Offering re-treatment is appropriate if a patient has not responded after 6 months following treatment. Some patients may respond better to a more potent bisphosphonate.

Medication

The goals of pharmacotherapy are to reduce disease activity and morbidity and to prevent complications.

Bisphosphonates

Also known as diphosphonates. They are analogues of inorganic pyrophosphate, a compound thought to play a role in bone mineralization. The pyrophosphate analogues have a P-C-P backbone instead of the P-O-P bond of pyrophosphate. The precise mechanism of action of bisphosphonates is not known yet, but they have been found to bind to hydroxyapatite crystals and inhibit osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Studies have suggested that their effects on cells may be of greater importance. For maximum gut absorption, all oral bisphosphonates should be taken at least 2 h before or after meals. The newer bisphosphonates are not completely free of the risk of causing a mineralization defect, but their safe therapeutic window is much wider. They clearly are more potent than etidronate in reducing disease activity and normalizing alkaline phosphatase levels.9,14,15


Etidronate (Didronel)

First bisphosphonate to be studied in humans and approved in the United States (1978) for the treatment of Paget's disease.
Reduces bone formation and does not alter renal tubular resorption of calcium. Does not affect hypercalcemia in patients with hyperparathyroidism.
Serum alkaline phosphatase and urinary hydroxyproline levels decrease and reach a nadir 3-6 mo after initiation of treatment and still are suppressed at 12 mo.

Adult

5-20 mg/kg/d PO for up to 6 mo; second course after 6-mo drug-free period; to avoid mineralization defects, now recommended at dosage of 400 mg/d for no longer than 6 mo

Pediatric

Not established

Coadministration with calcium-containing products and other multivalent cations decrease absorption

Documented hypersensitivity, hypocalcemia, and renal impairment

Pregnancy

B - Fetal risk not confirmed in studies in humans but has been shown in some studies in animals

Precautions

Monitor hypercalcemia-related parameters (eg, serum levels of calcium, phosphate, magnesium, and potassium); maintain adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D to prevent severe hypocalcemia; caution if active upper GI problems; not to administer with alendronate for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women; adverse effects include transient increase of bone pain, mild GI symptoms (eg, nausea, loose stools), and a reversible mineralization defect, increasing the risk of fracture; paradoxical increase in bone pain (10%) and failure of osteolytic lesions to heal may be related to its inhibitory effect on bone mineralization (makes goals of long-term control of disease activity and complete suppression difficult to achieve); subset of patients (15-24%) develop resistance to etidronate, usually between the second and third courses of therapy


Pamidronate (Aredia)

Potent second-generation bisphosphonate. IV pamidronate has been shown to be effective in the treatment of Paget's disease and in patients unresponsive to treatment with etidronate or calcitonin. Various dosage regimens have been studied. Few data have been published based on prospective studies to evaluate frequency of normalization after pamidronate therapy; too much variability exists between treatment protocols. Optimal dosing regimen not yet determined. Successful treatment consists of normalization of alkaline phosphatase level (biochemical remission) and stabilization of symptoms.
Anderson et al (1994) induced biochemical remission with one or more complex courses in 90% of patients with elevated alkaline phosphatase levels. Average remission was 2 y with a supposed permanent remission in 10-15%. Regimen consisted of a 30-mg infusion over 2 h, followed by 3 infusions of 60 mg each over 4 h for alkaline phosphatase levels <500 IU/L; levels >500 IU/L required 6 infusions of 60 mg each at 2-wk intervals.
Many single-dose regimens have been studied. Watts et al (1993) used a single infusion of 105 mg and achieved a remission rate of 71%, with a mean enzyme nadir at 6 mo. Excellent symptomatic control was achieved for 1.5-2 y. A few patients required a second infusion, with a mean interval of 19 mo after the first dose.
Another single-dose regimen by Chakravarty et al (1994), using 60 mg of IV pamidronate, provided similar efficacy to the Watts et al study. Dose of 30 mg IV infusion over 4 h on 3 consecutive days is approved therapeutic regimen but is not used often. Infusions of 60 mg or 90 mg over 2-4 h are more common. Single infusion is effective in mild disease, while 2-3 infusions may be needed in severe disease.
Depending on initial response, pamidronate may be readministered at irregular intervals. In general, more severe disease manifests more severe biochemical and radiographic abnormalities that require greater dosages to achieve remission.

Adult

30 mg IV infusion over 4 h on 3 consecutive days; 60-90 mg infusion over 2-4 h; in severe disease, 2-3 infusions may be needed

Pediatric

Not established

Documented hypersensitivity; hypocalcemia

Pregnancy

D - Fetal risk shown in humans; use only if benefits outweigh risk to fetus

Precautions

Monitor hypercalcemia-related parameters (eg, serum levels of calcium, phosphate, magnesium, potassium); maintain adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D to prevent severe hypocalcemia; caution if active upper GI problems; not to administer with alendronate for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women; adverse effects of IV pamidronate include an acute-phase febrile reaction within 24 h (ie, fever, myalgia, mild leukopenia), usually with the first infusion; transient increased bone pain; hypocalcemia; and eye inflammation (rare)


Alendronate (Fosamax)

Potent aminobisphosphonate (third-generation bisphosphonate) that is also used to treat osteoporosis. Retreatment may be considered after 6-mo posttreatment evaluation in patients whose serum alkaline phosphatase level did not normalize.
In one study, 6 mo of oral alendronate using recommended 40-mg regimen produced normalization of alkaline phosphatase in 63%, compared with 17% after treatment with 400 mg/d etidronate. Mean initial alkaline phosphatase level was 5 times upper limit of reference range. After 18 mo, 25 of 29 patients whose alkaline phosphatase levels had normalized and who were available for follow-up still had levels in reference range. After 25-30 mo, 15 patients still had alkaline phosphatase levels in reference range. Study showed alendronate to be more potent at suppressing Paget's disease activity than etidronate. Studies also showed that alendronate treatment led to cessation of radiological progression and healing of radiological lesions.

Adult

40 mg/d PO for 6 mo; must be taken with 6-8 oz of tap water at least 30 min before breakfast; recent data suggest 3 mo of treatment adequate for many patients

Pediatric

Not established

Documented hypersensitivity, hypocalcemia, renal impairment

Pregnancy

C - Fetal risk revealed in studies in animals but not established or not studied in humans; may use if benefits outweigh risk to fetus

Precautions

Monitor hypercalcemia-related parameters (eg, serum levels of calcium, phosphate, magnesium, potassium); maintain adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D to prevent severe hypocalcemia; caution if active upper GI problems; adverse effects include esophagitis, pain, and transient hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia; esophagitis can be prevented by drinking a large glass of water and remaining upright for at least 30 min after administration


Tiludronate (Skelid)

Sulfur-containing bisphosphonate of intermediate potency between etidronate and new nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates. No food, indomethacin, or calcium should be ingested within 2 h before or after. A 3-mo posttreatment evaluation follows. Given for 12 wk, the 400-mg/d regimen demonstrated reduced alkaline phosphatase activity by 58% at 24 wk. Pretreatment alkaline phosphatase levels were twice those of reference range. Double-blinded controlled studies demonstrate that bone turnover markers are better suppressed by tiludronate than placebo (level Ib 51,102) or etidronate (level III 106). These studies suggest tiludronate treatment is associated with 40-72% reduction in alkaline phosphatase activity. Pagetic bone pain also improved.

Adult

400 mg/d PO for 3 mo with 6-8 oz tap water on empty stomach

Pediatric

Not established

Documented hypersensitivity; sulfur allergy; hypocalcemia; renal impairment

Pregnancy

C - Fetal risk revealed in studies in animals but not established or not studies in humans; may use if benefits outweigh risk to fetus

Precautions

Monitor hypercalcemia-related parameters (eg, serum levels of calcium, phosphate, magnesium, potassium); maintain adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D to prevent severe hypocalcemia; caution if active upper GI problems; not to administer with alendronate for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women; adverse effects include nausea and diarrhea (uncommon)


Risedronate (Actonel)

Potent aminobisphosphonate. In comparative study, normalization of alkaline phosphatase was achieved in 77% of patients treated with risedronate, compared with 10% using 400-mg etidronate regimen. After 12 and 18 mo, 60% and 53% of patients treated with risedronate still had alkaline phosphatase levels in reference range. Randomized double-blinded study of risedronate with etidronate showed that alkaline phosphatase levels were normalized in 75% of patients, while only 1 in 7 etidronate patients reached normal alkaline phosphatase levels.

Adult

30 mg/d PO for 2 mo with 6-8 oz of tap water at least 30 min before breakfast; patient should remain upright for at least 30 min

Pediatric

Not established

Documented hypersensitivity, hypocalcemia, and renal impairment

Pregnancy

C - Fetal risk revealed in studies in animals but not established or not studies in humans; may use if benefits outweigh risk to fetus

Precautions

Monitor hypercalcemia-related parameters (eg, serum levels of calcium, phosphate, magnesium, potassium); maintain adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D to prevent severe hypocalcemia; caution if active upper GI problems; not to administer with alendronate for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women; adverse effects include diarrhea, headache, and arthralgia


Zoledronate (Reclast)

Inhibits bone resorption. Inhibits osteoclastic activity and induces osteoclast apoptosis.

Adult

5 mg IV once; infuse over 15 min

Pediatric

Not established

Concurrent administration with loop diuretics may increase risk of hypocalcemia

Pregnancy

D - Fetal risk shown in humans; use only if benefits outweigh risk to fetus

Precautions

Caution in renal insufficiency (hold dose with increased CrCl); risk of renal deterioration increased with <15 min IV infusion; flulike syndrome (fever, arthralgias, myalgias, skeletal pain), gastrointestinal reactions, anemia, insomnia, dyspnea, and electrolyte and mineral disturbances, such as low serum phosphate, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, may occur

Human calcitonin analogues

Significant analgesic effect on bone. Human calcitonin is no longer available. Salmon calcitonin is more likely than human calcitonin to cause resistant antibodies. As many as 26% of patients treated with salmon calcitonin demonstrated loss of biochemical responsiveness after initial improvement. High titers of salmon calcitonin antibodies produce resistance. All patients resistant to salmon calcitonin responded to human calcitonin.


Calcitonin (Osteocalcin, Miacalcin)

Peptide hormone that binds to calcitonin receptors on osteoclasts and rapidly inhibits bone resorption. Osteoclasts do not induce cytotoxic effects in bone cells. Induces reductions in urinary hydroxyproline and serum alkaline phosphatase levels. Serum alkaline phosphatase begins to decline 4 wk after initiation of treatment. Levels of urinary hydroxyproline may decrease quickly, indicating inhibition of bone resorption. These laboratory markers slowly increase back to pretreatment levels if treatment is stopped. If no response noted by 3 mo, treatment should be discontinued.
Restoration of more normal bone can be seen radiographically, especially after chronic calcitonin treatment. Bone biopsy samples also reflect reduced disease activity because decreased bone cells, marrow fibrosis, and woven bone are present. Reduction in bone pain, cardiac output, and skin temperature over lower limb bones can be observed. Improvement of neurologic deficits and stabilization of hearing noted. Reduction of hemorrhage from orthopedic procedures demonstrated with preoperative calcitonin treatment; however, only partially suppresses disease while treatment continues.

Adult

50-100 U SC 3-7 times/wk; in view of weaker activity, shorter duration of action, and adverse effect profile compared with bisphosphonates, likely should not be used as first-line agent for Paget's disease (still has role in patients who do not tolerate bisphosphonates or whose disease is refractory to bisphosphonates)

Pediatric

Not established

Pregnancy

B - Fetal risk not confirmed in studies in humans but has been shown in some studies in animals

Precautions

Hypocalcemia may occur; examine urine sediment during prolonged therapy; adverse effects include nausea and facial flushing that occur within 30 min of injection, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, polyuria, tetany, and allergic reactions; the nasal spray has not been shown to be consistently effective in treating Paget's disease

Antineoplastic agents

Potent cytotoxic agent that is highly effective in the treatment of Paget's disease.


Plicamycin (Mithracin)

Not FDA approved for treatment of Paget's disease. Also known as mithramycin. Inhibits cellular RNA and enzymatic RNA synthesis. Possibly blocks hypercalcemic action of pharmacologic doses of vitamin D and may act on osteoclasts or block action of parathyroid hormone. Effect in lowering calcium is not related to tumoricidal activity. Provides pain relief (in 3 d) and biochemical improvement. Reserved for rare patient whose condition is refractory or for urgent treatment of acute spinal cord compression or neurologic deterioration in which quick control of bone blood flow and periosteal edema can yield remarkable improvement. Extremely cytotoxic; use limited by systemic toxicity.

Adult

15 mcg/kg/d IV for 7-10 d

Pediatric

Not established

Coadministration with glucagon, calcitonin, and etidronate may increase toxicity

Documented hypersensitivity, thrombocytopenia, coagulation disorders, and impairment of bone marrow function

Pregnancy

X - Contraindicated; benefit does not outweigh risk

Precautions

Monitor platelets, PT, and bleeding times periodically during therapy and for several days after last dose; discontinue therapy if significant prolongation of bleeding times occurs and thrombocytopenia is observed; correct any electrolyte imbalance (especially hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, and hypophosphatemia) prior to treatment

More on Paget Disease

Overview: Paget Disease
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Paget Disease
Treatment & Medication: Paget Disease
Follow-up: Paget Disease
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

Paget disease, Paget's disease, bone pain, bone disease, Paget's disease of bone, Paget's bone disease, osteoblast, osteoclast, osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteoblastic, Paget disease of bone, osteitis deformans, osteoclastic, bone deformity

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

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David Chow, MD, Medical Director, California Spine Center
David Chow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, North American Spine Society, and Physiatric Association of Spine, Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Curtis W Slipman, MD, Director, University of Pennsylvania Spine Center; Associate Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center
Curtis W Slipman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Association of Academic Physiatrists, International Association for the Study of Pain, and North American Spine Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Debra Braverman, MD, Director of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System
Debra Braverman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, American Medical Association, and Association of Academic Physiatrists
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Patrick J Potter, BSc, MD, FRCP(C), Associate Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The University of Western Ontario; Consulting Staff, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St Joseph's Health Care Centre
Patrick J Potter, BSc, MD, FRCP(C) is a member of the following medical societies: American Paraplegia Society, Canadian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Canadian Medical Association, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Ontario Medical Association, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
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Kat Kolaski, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
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CME Editor

Kelly L Allen, MD, Regional Medical Director, IMX-Medical Management Services
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Denise I Campagnolo, MD, MS, Director of Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Research and Staff Physiatrist, Barrow Neurology Clinics, St Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center; Investigator for Barrow Neurology Clinics; Director, NARCOMS Project for Consortium of MS Centers
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