De ziekte van Paget van bot: diagnostiek en behandeling

- Paget's disease of bone affects one or more bones and is characterized by increased bone turnover (remodelling) with hypertrophy and abnormal bone structure with diminished strength leading to deformity and fracture.

- The cause of the disease is not known, possibly it is a slow virus infection.

- For diagnosis and follow-up the conventional bone markers, serum alkaline phosphatase and urine hydroxyproline, are still useful.

- Paget's disease cannot be cured, but it may be suppressed. Specific drug treatment aims at reducing the increased bone remodelling.

- New and potent biphosphonates enable early and more effective treatment of Paget's disease than in the past and better prevention of late complications of the disease.