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A 47 year old man is described who developed pathology proven Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) 38 years after receiving a low dose of human derived growth hormone (hGH) as part of a diagnostic procedure. The patient presented with a cerebellar syndrome, which is compatible with iatrogenic CJD. This is the longest incubation period described so far for iatrogenic CJD. Furthermore, this is the first report of CJD after diagnostic use of hGH. Since the patient was one of the first in the world to receive hGH, other cases of iatrogenic CJD can be expected in the coming years.

Original publication

DOI

10.1136/jnnp.72.6.792

Type

Journal article

Journal

Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry

Publication Date

06/2002

Volume

72

Pages

792 - 793

Addresses

Genetic Epidemiology Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Keywords

Humans, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome, Iatrogenic Disease, Human Growth Hormone, Age of Onset, Time Factors, Middle Aged, Male