Prion diseases in humans in Uruguay

A study of the last 25 years

Authors

  • Sara Lewin Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Instituto de Neurología, Sección de Neuroinfectología
  • Abayubá Perna Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Instituto de Neurología, Sección de Neuroinfectología y Neuroepidemiología, Neurología. Profesor Adjunto
  • Ronald Salamano Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Instituto de Neurología, Sección de Neuroinfectología, Cátedra de Neurología. Profesor Titular
  • Carlos Ketzoian Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Instituto de Neurología, Sección de Neuroepidemiología, Métodos Cuantitativos. Profesor Agregado
  • Daniel Salinas Neurologist
  • María Mirta Rodríguez Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Instituto de Neurología, Sección de Neurogenética, Departamento de Genética. Profesora Titular
  • Graciela Mañana Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital de Clínicas, Instituto de Neurología, Departamento de Neuropatología. Profesora Agregada

Keywords:

PRION DISEASES, CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB SYNDROME, URUGUAY

Abstract

Introduction: prion diseases are progressive neurodegenerative disorders that may result in death and are distinguished by long incubation periods before presenting a clinical manifestation. Today they are scientifically interesting since they follow a protein auto-replicant model without the participation of nucleic acids.
These diseases appear sporadically, they are hereditary and infectious as well. The appearance of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and its consequences on human beings and Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease variations reinforce the need for a strict epidemiological control in the field.
Objective: to describe the reality of these diseases in Uruguay from 1984 through 2009.
Method: we conducted a retrospective, descriptive review of clinical cases of prion diseases diagnosed in our country.
Results: we managed to identify 43 cases of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease in Uruguay (8 hereditary forms and 34 sporadic forms). Global incidence estimated rate was 0.7 cases per million inhabitants, considering both probable and definitive forms.
Conclusions: we have exclusively identified sporadic and hereditary cases of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, we have not identified variations in connection with bovine spongiform encephalopathy or other kinds of prion diseases affecting human beings.
Given the characteristics of the disease and the distribution of neurologists in the country enable a rather strict survey and epidemiological surveillance of these diseases in our country.

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Published

2012-03-31

How to Cite

1.
Lewin S, Perna A, Salamano R, Ketzoian C, Salinas D, Rodríguez MM, et al. Prion diseases in humans in Uruguay: A study of the last 25 years. Rev. Méd. Urug. [Internet]. 2012 Mar. 31 [cited 2024 Sep. 7];28(1):35-42. Available from: https://revista.rmu.org.uy/index.php/rmu/article/view/360

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