Saturday 16 October 2010

MRCP revision battle 31.5: CJD

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (=CJD) is a prion disease which causes a rapidly progressive dementia with myoclonus.



The majority of cases are sporadic.  There is also an inherited form and an acquired form (=varient CJD, from meat infected with BSE)


CSF examination is usually normal but EEG shows characteristic biphasic high-amplitude sharp waves.


Death is usually within 6 months.


On a lighter note lets look at herpes zoster opthalmicus...