One would be forgiven for thinking that a disease that presents with such symptoms would be one that we would all have heard about. However, perhaps the reason that Paget’s Disease has in effect ‘slipped under the radar’ is because in the vast majority of cases it is completely symptomless and its presence is only discovered accidentally when, for example, a sufferer has an X-Ray for a completely unrelated problem. For most, the symptoms of the disease gradually develop over a number years, although for a very small minority of patients symptoms quickly become severe and debilitating.

Complications can also arise from Paget’s Disease which can be devastating. For example, osteoarthritis may develop in joints near to affected bones, numbness or paralysis may result if vertebrae are affected and they deteriorate to such an extent that they pinch nerves in the spinal cord and pressure on auditory nerves can lead to deafness. In around 1% of cases cancer develops in the affected bone tissue and if a sufferer already has heart disease then Paget’s Disease may trigger heart failure.

Unfortunately, even today, Paget’s Disease remains incurable but at least its symptoms can be controlled. This is where Skelid steps in - an oral, once a day medication that has been specifically approved to treat Paget’s Disease.

To understand just how Skelid can help those with Paget’s Disease, it’s useful to know a little bit about bone structure and what happens when Paget’s Disease is present. Our bones are dynamic in structure and are constantly undergoing a process known as remodelling whereby old bone is broken down and digested (reabsorbed) by cells known as osteoclasts, whilst new bone is laid down by osteoblasts. Osteoclasts and osteoblasts work in harmony with each other to ensure normal bone metabolism - but in Paget’s Disease this delicate balance is upset and remodelling occurs at an excessive rate, with normal bone marrow being replaced with blood vessels and fibrous tissue. As a result bones become weak, soft, unstable and abnormally large.

Skelid works by slowing down this excessive turnover of bone. The active ingredient in Skelid is Tiludronate Disodium which belongs to a class of drugs known as bisphosphonates. Skelid causes the bone ingesting cells (the osteoclasts) to initiate a form of cell death (apoptosis) in which a programmed sequence of events leads to the elimination of cells without releasing harmful substances into the surrounding area. In effect it’s cell suicide. By reducing the number of osteoclasts in this way, the amount of bone resorption is reduced and new bone is allowed to form. As a result bone deformity is lessened and bones are kept strong so they are less likely to break. And Skelid can achieve all of this control over abnormal bone growth without interfering with the normal process of bone formation!

What’s more Skelid also acts relatively quickly. Unlike other oral bisphosphonates that normally require a 6 month treatment regime, Skelid acts in half this time, requiring only a 3 month period to be effective.

So if the treatment of Paget’s Disease is of concern to you, ask your health care professional about Skelid - a fast and effective treatment for what can become a devastating illness.