Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (Subacute Spongiform Encephalopathy; CJD)
Description of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Spastic psevdoskleroz (BKJa) – редкое, mortally, a degenerative brain disease, characterized by rapidly progressive dementia.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease can be categorized into different subtypes:
- Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease - also known as classical Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; the most common type; generally affects people aged 50 years or more;
- Familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease - a hereditary disease;
- Iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease - the infection occurs through medical procedures, such as injections of growth hormone (growth hormone) or corneal transplants or dura mater of the patient donors;
- A new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) - Occurs when the consumption of contaminated beef products, which can cause bovine spongiform encephalopathy;
- Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease. Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is different from other forms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, since it affects young people and has a long period of development.
Causes of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Research the causes of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease found, that non-hereditary cases cause infectious proteins, called prions. Prions can transform normal protein molecules into abnormal, pathogenic molecule.
Risk factors for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Factors, which increase the risk of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease:
- Age: 50-75 years;
- Use of cadaveric growth hormone;
- Corneal transplantation;
- The transplantation of dura mater;
- Члены семьи с БКЯ – около 10% -15% of cases are inherited;
- Consumption of beef products, produced in countries with epidemics of mad cow disease;
- Medical profession, that work with the brain tissues;
- Transfusion of blood from the patient CJD.
Symptoms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
At the initial stage of CJD symptoms are not observed. As CJD progresses, symptoms, which may be, include:
- Memory lapses;
- Difficulty with concentration;
- Difficulty with speech;
- Loss of coordination;
- Blurred vision;
- Changes in behavior and mood;
- Muscle spasms;
- Convulsions;
- Loss of mental and physical functions.
Depending on the type of CJD, the disease may last from 3-36 months or longer. CJD is almost always fatal.
Diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical examination.
CJD is a difficult disease to diagnose. There are no tests, allowing to detect it. Tests, which may be used, to help diagnose:
- Maybe, you want to record brain activity. This can be done with the electroencephalogram (EEG);
- I need pictures of the brain, which are used to perform the following procedures:
- Computed tomography of the head;
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRT);
- Maybe, You will need to identify,how the brain uses glucose. This can be done by using positron emission tomography (PET);
- There should be an analysis of body fluids. For this purpose:
- Removing a sample of brain tissue for testing, Why is performed brain biopsy;
- Blood tests;
- Poyasnichnaya puncture.
Treatment of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is not curable. The goal of treatment is to relieve pain and symptoms of CJD.
Drug therapy may include:
- Opiates to treat pain;
- Anticonvulsants, to reduce neuromuscular problems.
Prevention of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
To avoid a new form of CJD, it is recommended not to eat beef, production in the, which may be bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Ways to prevent other forms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease does not exist.