First Suspected Case of Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in Syria

Prion diseases are rare, fatal neurodegenerative disorders caused by misfolded proteins. Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (sCJD) is the most common form and develops without any identifiable triggers. This case report documents the first probable diagnosis of sCJD in Syria, involving a 72-year-old woman who presented with depressive symptoms for several months before rapidly deteriorating, and eventually succumbing to complications of the disease. Clinical examination findings, exclusion of CJD-mimicking conditions, and specific MRI findings, supported the diagnosis in the absence of biochemical tests or postmortem confirmation. This report emphasizes the challenges of diagnosing prion diseases in resource-limited settings and calls for the development of national surveillance systems in low- and middle-income countries to aid early detection, monitor the global disease burden, and reduce the risk of outbreaks. Raising awareness of prion diseases among physicians in such contexts is crucial for improving disease recognition.