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[Incidence of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in France, 1992-1995]
A Ruffié1, N Delasnerie-Lauprêtre, J P Brandel
1INSERM Unité 360, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris.
Background:
Recent developments in animal and humans transmissible spongiform encephalopathies have motivated a study on incidence and risk factors of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in France and 4 other European countries.
Methods:
CJD cases were ascertained through a national network including 250 neurological departments or neuropathological laboratories. CJD cases were classified as definite, probable or possible. Overall incidence rate and age-standardized incidence rates by department were computed. Standardized incidence ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were computed for comparing observed and expected number of CJD cases in each department.
Results:
Between 1992 and 1995, 216 CJD cases were registered (mean incidence rate: 0.87 per million inhabitants). The distribution of CJD cases was heterogeneous (p < 0.007). Nevertheless, the distribution of standardized incidence ratios fitted quite well a Poisson distribution. The observed number of CJD cases was significantly higher than expected in 4 departments and lower in 1 department.
Conclusion:
Incidence of CJD in France is similar to that observed in other European countries. Analysis of distribution of CJD cases by department showed a few significant differences which can be due to random fluctuations.