[The Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Clinical, epidemiological, pathogenetic and aetiological aspects (author's transl)]

Creutzfield-Jakob Disease is a kind of fatal progressive dementia in adults with cerebellar, extrapyramidal and corticospinal signs leading via decerebration to death within an average period of 7 months. EEG and biopsy of the brain are the only diagnostic means of significant importance. Neuropathologically, there are spongiform changes with loss of neurons and gliosis. The epidemiological conditions are complicated and indicate that certain families and population groups are preferred. Together with kuru and two veterinary diseases, namely, scrapie and transmissible mink encephalopathy, Creutzfeld-Jakob disease forms a group of subacute spongiform encephalopathies. The diseases in this group are infectious diseases without inflammatory reaction, which are caused by a "slow virus" with unconventional properties. The successful transmission of this disease to laboratory animals has contributed towards an understanding of these aetiological and pathogenetic correlations and has also opened up new diagnostic perspectives. However, the natural mode of transmission of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease remains largely unknown. Since it has been established that some cases were definitely iatrogenic, importance is attached to measures which must be taken when treating suspicious demented patients.