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December 2022; 12 (6) Research Article

Improving Early Recognition of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Mimics

Evelyn B. Lazar, Amanda L. Porter, Christian C. Prusinski, S. Richard Dunham, A. Sebastian Lopez-Chiriboga, M. Bakri Hammami, Divyanshu Dubey, Gregory S. Day
First published October 12, 2022, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1212/CPJ.0000000000200097
Evelyn B. Lazar
Department of Neurology (E.B.L., A.L.P., C.C.P., A.S.L.-C., G.S.D.), Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, FL; Department of Neurology (S.R.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (M.B.H., D.D.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
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Amanda L. Porter
Department of Neurology (E.B.L., A.L.P., C.C.P., A.S.L.-C., G.S.D.), Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, FL; Department of Neurology (S.R.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (M.B.H., D.D.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
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Christian C. Prusinski
Department of Neurology (E.B.L., A.L.P., C.C.P., A.S.L.-C., G.S.D.), Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, FL; Department of Neurology (S.R.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (M.B.H., D.D.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
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S. Richard Dunham
Department of Neurology (E.B.L., A.L.P., C.C.P., A.S.L.-C., G.S.D.), Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, FL; Department of Neurology (S.R.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (M.B.H., D.D.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
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A. Sebastian Lopez-Chiriboga
Department of Neurology (E.B.L., A.L.P., C.C.P., A.S.L.-C., G.S.D.), Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, FL; Department of Neurology (S.R.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (M.B.H., D.D.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
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M. Bakri Hammami
Department of Neurology (E.B.L., A.L.P., C.C.P., A.S.L.-C., G.S.D.), Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, FL; Department of Neurology (S.R.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (M.B.H., D.D.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
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Divyanshu Dubey
Department of Neurology (E.B.L., A.L.P., C.C.P., A.S.L.-C., G.S.D.), Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, FL; Department of Neurology (S.R.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (M.B.H., D.D.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
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Gregory S. Day
Department of Neurology (E.B.L., A.L.P., C.C.P., A.S.L.-C., G.S.D.), Mayo Clinic in Florida, Jacksonville, FL; Department of Neurology (S.R.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (M.B.H., D.D.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
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Citation
Improving Early Recognition of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Mimics
Evelyn B. Lazar, Amanda L. Porter, Christian C. Prusinski, S. Richard Dunham, A. Sebastian Lopez-Chiriboga, M. Bakri Hammami, Divyanshu Dubey, Gregory S. Day
Neurol Clin Pract Dec 2022, 12 (6) 406-413; DOI: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000200097

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Abstract

Background and Objectives Diagnostic criteria emphasize the use of sensitive and disease-specific tests to distinguish patients with rapidly progressive dementia (RPD) due to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) vs other causes (mimics). These tests are often performed in specialized centers, with results taking days to return. There is a need to leverage clinical features and rapidly reporting tests to distinguish patients with RPD due to CJD from those due to other causes (mimics) early in the symptomatic course.

Methods In this case-control series, clinical features and the results of diagnostic tests were compared between mimics (n = 11) and patients with definite (pathologically proven, n = 33) or probable CJD (with positive real-time quaking-induced conversion [RT-QuIC], n = 60). Patients were assessed at Mayo Clinic Enterprise or Washington University from January 2014 to February 2021. Mimics were enrolled in prospective studies of RPD; mimics met the diagnostic criteria for probable CJD but did not have CJD.

Results Mimics were ultimately diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis (n = 6), neurosarcoidosis, frontotemporal lobar degeneration with motor neuron disease, dural arteriovenous fistula, cerebral amyloid angiopathy with related inflammation, and systemic lupus erythematous with polypharmacy. Age at symptom onset, sex, presenting features, and MRI and EEG findings were similar in CJD cases and mimics. Focal motor abnormalities (49/93, 11/11), CSF leukocytosis (4/92, 5/11), and protein >45 mg/dL (39/92, 10/11) were more common in mimics (p < 0.01). Positive RT-QuIC (77/80, 0/9) and total tau >1149 pg/mL (74/82, 2/10) were more common in CJD cases (all p < 0.01). Protein 14-3-3 was elevated in 64/89 CJD cases and 4/10 mimics (p = 0.067). Neural-specific autoantibodies associated with autoimmune encephalitis were detected within the serum (5/9) and CSF (5/10) of mimics; nonspecific antibodies were detected within the serum of 9/71 CJD cases.

Discussion Immune-mediated, vascular, granulomatous, and neurodegenerative diseases may mimic CJD at presentation and should be considered in patients with early motor dysfunction and abnormal CSF studies. The detection of atypical features—particularly elevations in CSF leukocytes and protein—should prompt evaluation for mimics and consideration of empiric treatment while waiting for the results of more specific tests.

Footnotes

  • Funding information and disclosures are provided at the end of the article. Full disclosure form information provided by the authors is available with the full text of this article at Neurology.org/cp.

  • Submitted and externally peer reviewed. The handling editor was Associate Editor Jack W. Tsao, MD, DPhil, FAAN.

  • Received March 21, 2022.
  • Accepted September 15, 2022.
  • © 2022 American Academy of Neurology
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