A retrospective study of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Belgium

Eur J Epidemiol. 1999 Jul;15(6):517-9. doi: 10.1023/a:1007581313067.

Abstract

Using data from Belgian neuropathological archives, completed with the results of a comprehensive study of available medical records, we found 100 patients who fulfilled diagnostic criteria for probable or definite Creutzfeldt-Jakob d1551isease (CJD). Mean age at death was 63 years. The median disease duration was 9 months. Progressive mental deterioration was present in all cases, whereas signs of cerebellar dysfunction and myoclonus were found in approximately 80% of the patients. In 50% of the population, the EEG revealed characteristic abnormalities. Ninety-six patients suffered from the sporadic type of CJD, while 4 suffered from a hereditary form. In our series, we could find no evidence for the new variant, neither for an iatrogenic cause.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Belgium / epidemiology
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / mortality
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies