Paget's disease of bone possible viral basis.

In 1974, the first report of the presence of viral-like inclusions in the osteoclasts of patients with Paget's disease appeared (Rebel et al 1974). This observation, first made in France, was followed by confirmatory reports from North America, Europe, and Asia. Although no more compelling hypothesis than a viral etiology has been proposed subsequently, definitive proof of viral etiology is still lacking. This article summarizes the research of the past 22 years, which has been directed at defining the exact nature of the viral-like inclusions that are invariably found in the osteoclasts of Paget's disease.