Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease affects both men and women worldwide usually between the ages of 50 to 75 years. The officially stated mortality rate is one to two deaths per one million population per year. However, this figure appears to be an understatement as CJD is often misdiagnosed. In one study by Yale University researchers 13% of Alzheimer patients were found upon autopsy to actually have CJD. A similar study performed at the University of Pittsburgh showed over 5% of Alzheimer's patients were CJD victims. There are three forms of CJD: familial (genetic, about 10-15% of cases), sporadic (cause unknown, about 80-85% of cases) and iatrogenic (through a medical procedure such as contaminated cadaver-derived growth hormones (GH), dura mater recipients, use of contaminated surgical instruments, and corneal transplant recipients, about 1% of cases) While it is theoretically possible the infectious agent may be present in blood, there are no documented cases of transmission by blood in humans. Pooled blood products are withdrawn as a precaution when a donor has been confirmed as a CJD victim or they are at a higher risk of contracting CJD. Unfortunately, in most cases blood products have already been utilized by individuals prior to the withdrawals. The CDC is currently under Congressional mandate to monitor blood product recipients for any evidence of increase of CJD incidence.
Source for post today and post yesterday:http://members.aol.com/larmstr853/cjdvoice/facts.htm
Because my dad passed away from CJD I am now restricted for life from giving blood and so are the rest of my immediate family members. My dad did give blood several times so I hope they took his donations off the shelf.
We need to know more!!! Please help!!
-Lacy
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2 comments:
Very informative!! Thank you.
The UCSF Memory and Aging Center has a very informative site on CJD at http://memory.ucsf.edu/cjd. There is also a chance to get enrolled in research and treatment trials.
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