Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in UK children after 27 years of active prospective surveillance.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine whether any children in the UK had variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD).

Design

This active prospective epidemiological study used the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit, asking UK paediatricians to notify all childhood cases of progressive intellectual and neurological deterioration (PIND), a group that would include all cases of vCJD. Clinical data were obtained by questionnaire or via a site visit. An independent expert group classified the cases. If vCJD was suspected, referral to the National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Research and Surveillance Unit was recommended.

Results

Between May 1997 and April 2024 (27 years), 5222 children were notified. There were four groups. (1) 2540 were 'not cases'-they did not meet the case definition or

SUBMITTER: Verity C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12171403 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature