Report of a Case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease With an Unusual Quick Evolution

Cureus. 2022 Mar 9;14(3):e22982. doi: 10.7759/cureus.22982. eCollection 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a rare, transmissible neurodegenerative disorder, most prevalent between the ages of 50 and 70 years old, that is incurable and fatal. It's caused by a slow, infectious protein agent-designated prion. The most common clinical presentations are sleep disturbances, personality changes, ataxia, aphasia, visual disturbances, weakness, and myoclonus combined with progressive dementia. Here we report the case of a patient with disturbance of consciousness, restlessness, and myoclonia who died two weeks after admission. The analysis of his cerebrospinal fluid reveals that the presence of 14-3-3 protein was positive, which supports the diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Our observation underscores the importance of the quick fatality of this case.

Keywords: 14-3-3 protein; creutzfeldt-jakob disease; encephalopathy; neuropathology; prion; rapid evolution.

Publication types

  • Case Reports