Amyloid-β pathology and cerebral amyloid angiopathy are frequent in iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease after dural grafting

Abstract

We conclude that congophilic amyloid angiopathy and brain parenchymal Aβ plaques are frequent in iCJD after dural grafting. The presence of Aβ pathology in young individuals is highly unusual and suggests a causal relationship to the dural grafts. Further studies will be needed to elucidate whether such pathology resulted from the seeding of Aβ aggregates from the grafts to host tissues.

New Evidence Suggests Link between Prion Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease

“…They compared the Aβ load in this iCJD group with data from other autopsy studies obtained from patients with other prion diseases and found only the iCJD group exhibited the Aβ load at such young ages. Following these findings, another study [9] published in January 2016 confirmed the results. Using immunocytochemistry, Frontzek et al [9] detected Aβ plaques in the brain gray matter and meningeal vessels in five of seven iCJD patients, who received prion-contaminated dural grafting.…”

“…Following these findings, another study [9] published in January 2016 confirmed the results. Using immunocytochemistry, Frontzek et al [9] detected Aβ plaques in the brain gray matter and meningeal vessels in five of seven iCJD patients, who received prion-contaminated dural grafting. The frequency of Aβ seen in these iCJD cases is significantly higher than the frequency in agematched sCJD cases.…”

The Prion-Like Properties of Amyloid-β Assemblies: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease

“…Also important will be to examine any remaining batches of cadaveric growth hormone for the presence of Ab and other types of prion-like seeds. Very recently, CJD patients who had received PrP prion -contaminated dura mater transplants many years earlier were also found to have significantly increased Ab plaques and CAA (Frontzek et al 2016).…”

The red-hot debate about transmissible Alzheimer's

“…The paper by Collinge and his colleagues has sparked a worldwide hunt for similar amyloid pathology in autopsied brains, and a small study 2 published this January revealed a handful of related cases. Researchers are also trying to work out what the putative amyloid seeds look like, and whether different 'strains' of amyloids exist that are particularly damaging.…”