Genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Turkish Jews-demographic and clinical features

Background The largest cluster of genetic Creutzfeldt- Jakob Disease (CJD) exists in Libyan Jews carrying the E200K mutation in the PRNP gene. However, there is another cluster of genetic CJD with E200K mutation in families of Turkish-Jewish origin. Aims In this retrospective study, we aim to describe the demographic and clinical features of this population of patients. Material and Methods The Israeli National CJD database was searched for demographic, clinical, imaging, and laboratory data of genetic CJD patients of Libyan and Turkish ancestry with the E200K mutation. The data of Libyan and Turkish patients were compared with notice similar or different demographic or clinical courses. Results Four hundred and twenty-three patients with CJD of Libyan (L) ancestry and 27 patients with CJD of Turkish (T) ancestry were identified. There were no significant differences in demographic and clinical data between the two populations (age of onset: T = 62 +/- 8.8, L = 60 +/- 9.7; age of death: T = 63 +/- 8.6, L = 61 +/- 9.7; and disease duration: T = 7.8 +/- 8.4 months, L = 9.6 +/- 13.6 months). Rapidly progressive dementia was the most common presentation in both groups, followed by pure cerebellar onset. The levels of tau protein in CSF did not differ between groups (T = 1290 +/- 397.6 pg/ml, L = 1276 +/- 594.2 pg/ml). MRI and EEG showed classical CJD features in most patients in both groups. Discussion The E200K mutation is the most common mutation among gCJD patients and was reported in different ethnical populations, suggesting several independent haplotypes of the mutation. The Turkish-Jew cluster, first described in this study, shares similar demographic and clinical features with the bigger cluster of Libyan-Jews CJD patients. Conclusion E200K gCJD patients of Turkish ancestry share similar demographic and clinical features to patients of Libyan descent, suggesting a common origin of both populations.