<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare neurodegenerative disease caused by prions, characterized by a progressive dementia with rapid onset, psychiatric and neurologic symptoms (myoclonus, cerebellar, pyramidal, extrapyramidal and visual signs), with an invariable course to exitus. There are three general forms: sporadic or spontaneous, genetic or familial, and acquired form, including a variant form of CJD. The diagnosis can be confirmed only by histological examination of brain tissue, showing non-inflammatory spongiform changes and neuronal loss. We present the case of a 64 years old male who was admitted in our department for a rapidly progressive cognitive decline, hallucinations and myoclonus. Autopsy brain histology confirmed the diagnosis showing incipient spongiform vacuolization and astrogliosis. This paper illustrates a very rapid course of a sporadic CJD with discussion upon literature regarding the laboratory and pathology biomarkers of diagnosis.</p></abstract>

Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare neurodegenerative disease caused by prions, characterized by a progressive dementia with rapid onset, psychiatric and neurologic symptoms (myoclonus, cerebellar, pyramidal, extrapyramidal and visual signs), with an invariable course to exitus. There are three general forms: sporadic or spontaneous, genetic or familial, and acquired form, including a variant form of CJD. The diagnosis can be confirmed only by histological examination of brain tissue, showing non-inflammatory spongiform changes and neuronal loss. We present the case of a 64 years old male who was admitted in our department for a rapidly progressive cognitive decline, hallucinations and myoclonus. Autopsy brain histology confirmed the diagnosis showing incipient spongiform vacuolization and astrogliosis. This paper illustrates a very rapid course of a sporadic CJD with discussion upon literature regarding the laboratory and pathology biomarkers of diagnosis.

A case of sporadic Creutzfeldt – Jakob disease and discussion on diagnostic biomarkers 

Neurology Dept., Sibiu Emergency Clinical County Hospital, Pompeiu Onofreiu St. 2-4, 550166

Neurology Department, Emergency Clinical County Hospital Sibiu

Pathology Department, Emergency Clinical County Hospital Sibiu, Romania

Revista Romana de Medicina de Laborator

A case of sporadic Creutzfeldt – Jakob disease and discussion on diagnostic biomarkers

Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare neurodegenerative disease caused by prions, characterized by a progressive dementia with rapid onset, psychiatric...

A case of sporadic Creutzfeldt – Jakob disease and discussion on diagnostic biomarkers

Published Online: Jun 21, 2013

Page range: 225 - 230

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rrlm-2013-0001

This content is open access.