How well does real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) analysis of olfactory mucosa brushings discriminate between patients with sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) and controls who do not have the disease?
Background: A test detecting the specific marker for CJD, the prion protein, through RT-QuIC testing of cerebrospinal fluid, has a sensitivity of 80% to 90% for sporadic CJD diagnosis. It has been difficult to identify a prion protein assay and a procedure for obtaining a tissue specimen that are sufficiently sensitive, noninvasive, and practical for use in patients. A much safer and less invasive nasal-brushing procedure may be a viable choice.
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November 2014Study design: Controlled case study of olfactory epithelium brushings and cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients with and those without sporadic CJD.
Setting: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; Clinica Otorinolaringoiatrica, Policlinico G.B. Rossi, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy; Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.