Get your full text copy in PDF
Uta Heinemann, Anna Krasnianski, Bettina Meissner, Eva M. Grasbon-Frodl, Hans A. Kretzschmar, Inga Zerr
Med Sci Monit 2008; 14(5): CS41-43
ID: 855741
Background:
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a rare neurodegenerative disorder with a worldwide incidence of 1.5 per million inhabitants. About 10-15% of all cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are of genetic origin and display a large variety in clinical presentation (regarding disease duration, age at onset, and others). The goal of this report was to describe the clinical features and diagnostic tests in a patient with a novel prion protein gene (PRNP) D202G mutation.
Material and Method:
A 71-year-old patient had all the clinical signs of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) but an extremely prolonged disease duration of 16 years. The 14-3-3 protein test was positive, while MRI and EEG did not show CJD typical changes. Family history was positive for cerebellar and dementia disorders without definite diagnoses. Full-length sequencing of the prion protein gene (PRNP) showed a new D202G mutation associated with valine on codon 129 of unknown significance. Methionine/valine heterozygosity at codon 129 was found.
Results:
Conclusions:
These findings highlight the value of 14-3-3 and gene analysis in unclear neurological disorders to detect possibly atypical presentations of prion disorders. The significance of this new mutation will remain unclear until further such patients are reported.