NR AKRH
AU Seipelt,M.; Zerr,I.; Nau,R.; Mollenhauer,B.; Kropp,S.; Steinhoff,B.J.; Wilhelm-Gossling,C.; Bamberg,C.; Janzen,R.W.; Berlit,P.; Manz,F.; Felgenhauer,K.; Poser,S.
TI Hashimoto's encephalitis as a differential diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
QU Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 1999 Feb; 66(2): 172-6
PT journal article
AB OBJECTIVES: During an epidemiological study of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Germany, Hashimoto's encephalitis was encountered as a differential diagnosis, which has not yet been described in this context. METHODS: The symptoms and findings of seven patients who fulfilled the criteria for "possible" Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are presented. RESULTS: A Hashimoto's thyroiditis with antibodies against thyroglobulin or thyroid peroxidase, or both and a hypoechoic thyroid ultrasonogram were found in all cases. Analysis of CSF disclosed an increased leucocyte count in three patients, and a raised CSF:serum concentration ratio of albumin (QA1b) in four patients. The 14-3-3 protein, typical of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, could not be detected in any of our patients. No periodic sharp wave complexes, which are typical of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, were detected on EEG in any of the cases. By contrast with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which leads to death within a few months, the patients with Hashimoto's encephalitis often recover quickly when treated adequately. All the patients improved after administration of corticosteroids. CONCLUSION: The clinical symptomatology of both diseases may be very similar: dementia, myoclonus, ataxia, and personality change or psychotic phenomena are characteristic symptoms.
MH Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Case Report; Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome/*diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Human; Male; Middle Age; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune/*diagnosis
AD Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital, Göttingen, Germany.
SP englisch
PO England