Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- cognitive impairment
- limb and/or gait ataxia
- myoclonus
- parkinsonism
- psychiatric symptoms
- visual changes
- age late 20s or mid-to-late 60s
- insomnia, dysautonomia
- positive family history
- nonspecific or constitutional symptoms
Other diagnostic factors
- painful sensory symptoms
- movement disorder
Risk factors
- genetic predisposition
- prion-contaminated surgical instruments
- transfusion of blood or blood products (variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease)
- consumption of UK beef from 1980 to 1996
- consumption of US beef
- deer, elk, moose hunting in endemic regions of US and Canada
- use of human growth hormone
Diagnostic tests
1st tests to order
- brain MRI
- EEG
Tests to consider
- quaking-induced conversion (QuIC)
- CSF biomarkers
- prion protein gene genetic testing
- biopsy (brain, tonsil)
Treatment algorithm
all patients
Contributors
Authors
Valerie Sim, MD, FRCPC
Associate Professor
Department of Medicine
Division of Neurology
Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases
University of Alberta
Edmonton
Alberta
Canada
Disclosures
VS works as an academic neurologist, providing medical consultation on cases of dementia, including prion disease. This falls within the scope of her role so no extra specialized payments are received. VS also receives grants, held by the University of Alberta, to research prion disease. The grants support equipment, personnel salaries and lab supplies, but provide no personal financial support.
Acknowledgements
Dr Valerie Sim would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Michael D. Geschwind, Dr Amy Kuo, and Dr R. Ronald Finley, the previous contributors to this topic. MDG participates in the speakers' bureau for Pfizer, Forest, and Novartis; is consultant for MedaCorp, Gerson-Lehman Group, and Clinical Advisors Incorporated; and is an author of a number of references cited in this topic. RRF participates in the speakers' bureau for Pfizer, Forest, and Novartis. AK declares that she has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Ali Hassoun, MD, FACP, FIDSA, AAHIVS
Infectious Disease Specialist
Alabama Infectious Diseases Center
Huntsville
AL
Disclosures
AH declares that he has no competing interests.
Robert A. Larsen, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Southern California
Keck School of Medicine
Los Angeles
CA
Disclosures
RAL declares that he has no competing interests.
William A. Petri, Jr., MD, PhD, FACP
Chief and Professor of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health
University of Virginia Health System
Charlottesville
VA
Disclosures
WAP declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Alzheimer dementia (AD)
- Lewy body dementia
- Frontotemporal dementia
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- ACR appropriateness criteria: movement disorders and neurodegenerative diseases
- Evidence-based guideline: diagnostic accuracy of CSF 14-3-3 protein in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
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