Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) comprises approximately 85% of human prion diseases and is considered due to a post-translational modification of the native prion protein. Definitive diagnosis is only possible through neuropathologic examination at postmortem analysis or via an antemortem brain biopsy. Accurate and early clinical diagnosis of sCJD is important for patients and families, and to decrease the risk of iatrogenic transmission. Moreover, the low prevalence rate and rapid course of the illness hamper researchers' ability to perform clinical trials. Probable sCJD is diagnosed after excluding all other possible causes and with the aid of EEGs and assays for detection of the 14-3-3 protein in CSF.1 However, both of these diagnostic tests have limitations, including low …