Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Prion Safety Laboratory Swipe Test
Published on: February 14, 2025
[Creutzfeldt - Jakob presenting with isolated visual symptoms: the Heidenhain variant]
I del Barrio-Manso1, A Toribio-García, M Cordero-Coma
1Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital de Infanta Cristina, Parla, Madrid, España. inesoide@hotmail.com
Clinical Case:
We report the case of a 67 year old female complaining of decreased vision and diagnosed with the Heidenhain variant of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Her past medical history was unremarkable. She died less than three months after the onset.
Discussion:
The Heidenhain variant of sporadic Creutfeld-Jakob disease should be suspected in patients suffering from early visual disturbances, unremarkable ophthalmic examination, and subsequent rapid decline of their cognitive function. A complete neurological exam including electroencephalogram recordings and magnetic resonance is mandatory. These patients share a common genotype (PRNP codon 129 MM) associated with a clinically typical disease course.
Related Concept Videos
Visual Agnosia
Glaucoma: Overview
Prosopagnosia
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Increased Intracranial Pressure l: Introduction

