Spectrum and Pattern of Movement Disorders in Patients with Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Background: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare neuro degenerative disease that is mainly characterized by rapidly progressive dementia along with a varying combination of myoclonus, visual, cerebellar, pyramidal/extrapyramidal and akinetic mutism. Several movement disorders phenomenologies can occurs either at onset, as presenting symptom or during the course of illness. Present study aims to characterize the clinical, radiological features and the outcome of patients with CJD with movement disorders as the forthcoming manifestation. Methods: Chart review of patients with CJD with movement disorders. Demographic, clinical and radiological details of the patients were reviewed. Results: 25 patients (13 males) of sCJD with median age at presentation of 58 years and median duration of illness of 5 months were included in the study. According to revised CDC diagnostic criteria 1 patient was classified as definite sCJD, 20 as probable and 2 as possible CJD. Myoclonus, ataxia and parkinsonism were the most common movement disorder and chorea was the least common. Magnetic resonance imaging of brain was performed in all and basal ganglia abnormality and cortical ribboning was seen in more than two-third of cases. Electroencephalographic abnormality was noted in 21 patients with triphasic waves and periodic sharp waves seen in 7 and 6 patients respectively. Cerebrospinal fluid 14-3-3 assay was abnormal in 2 out of 4 patients. Atypical presentations were noted in the form of ataxic presentation, CBS like presentation and choreiform presentation. Conclusion: Myoclonus, ataxia and parkinsonism are the most frequent movement disorders phenomenology observed in patients with sCJD.

Automated summary

This study reviewed the clinical, radiological features, and outcome of 25 CJD patients with movement disorders. The most common movement disorders observed were myoclonus, ataxia, and parkinsonism, while chorea was the least common. MRI showed basal ganglia abnormality and cortical ribboning in the majority of cases. EEG abnormalities were seen in 21 patients, with triphasic waves and periodic sharp waves being the most common. Abnormal 14-3-3 assay was found in 2 out of 4 patients. Atypical presentations, such as ataxic, CBS-like, and choreiform, were also noted.