Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease among libyan jews

A. D. Korczyn*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

The focus of CJD among Jews of Libyan origin has been recognized for two decades, but the reasons underlying it were unknown. Prevailing views suggested transmission from sheep infected with scrapie. However, recent data show that in fact CJD in this ethnic group is a genetically determined disease due to a point mutation on the codon 200 of the prion protein gene. The clinical characteristics of CJD in this group, and particularly the less common periodic activity in the EEG, are reviewed. New findings include peripheral neuropathy of the demyelinating type in two cases, presumably due to involvement of Schwann cells. The pathophysiology of the disease includes, presumably, a focal post-translational modification of the prion protein, (predisposed by the mutation). Later, the disease progresses through cell-to-cell transmission.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)490-493
Number of pages4
JournalEuropean Journal of Epidemiology
Volume7
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1991

Keywords

  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseases
  • Genetics
  • Jews
  • Libya
  • Pathophysiology
  • Prion disease

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