Semin Neurol 2019; 39(04): 428-439
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1687841
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Prion Disease

Kelly J. Baldwin
1   Department of Neurology, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Danville, Pennsylvania
,
Cynthia M. Correll
1   Department of Neurology, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Danville, Pennsylvania
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 September 2019 (online)

Abstract

Prion diseases are a phenotypically diverse set of disorders characterized by protease-resistant abnormally shaped proteins known as prions. There are three main groups of prion diseases, termed sporadic (Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease [CJD], sporadic fatal insomnia, and variably protease-sensitive prionopathy), genetic (genetic CJD, fatal familial insomnia, and Gerstmann–Straussler–Scheinker syndrome), and acquired (kuru, variant CJD, and iatrogenic CJD). This article will review the pathophysiology, genetics, clinical presentations, and diagnostic challenges in patients with prion disease. Case discussions, images, and tables will be used to highlight important characteristics of prion disease and prion mimics.

 
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