1California Northstate University College of Medicine, USA
2Kaiser Permanente North Valley Epilepsy Program, USA
3Kaiser Permanente Northern California Regional Epilepsy Center, USA
4Department of Neurology, Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center, USA
5Department of Neurology, Kaiser Permanente Roseville Medical Center, USA
*Corresponding author:Gavin Zanella and Nicholas Baltar, California Northstate University College of Medicine, USA
Submission:January 14, 2022; Published: January 21, 2022
ISSN 2639-0531Volume3 Issue3
Background: Heidenhain variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (HV-CJD) is a form of spongiform
encephalopathy characterized by isolated visual symptoms that rapidly progress through a series of often
non-specific CNS symptoms that ultimately result in severe dementia, myoclonus, and radically altered
mental status. Due to the non-specific nature of this disease’s progression, early diagnosis is challenging
and can place large amounts of stress and uncertainty on the patient’s loved ones.
Case Description: We present the case of a 61-year-old female who arrived at the clinic with complaints
of isolated bilateral visual disturbances, which resulted in a diagnosis of occipital ischemic stroke after
MRI was performed. Weeks later, she rapidly progressed from focal seizures to non-convulsive status
epilepticus refractory to treatment with anticonvulsants and benzodiazepines. At this time, she was
diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) using a relatively new diagnostic test called “real time
quaking induced conversion” (RT-QuIC).
Conclusion: Before the advent of the RT-QuIC assay, the diagnosis of CJD was complicated by the lack
of a sensitive and specific test and the absence of a uniform clinical course. This case should indicate
to readers that the RT-QuIC assay is a high sensitivity and specificity test available for the diagnosis of
suspected CJD.
Keywords:Hv-CJD; Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; RT-QuIC, Case report; Neurology; Ophthalmology
Abbreviations:CJD=Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; CSF=Cerebrospinal Fluids; sCJD=Spontaneous Creutzfelt- Jakob Disease; DWI=Diffusion Weighted Imaging; EEG=Electroencephalogram; GPD=Generalized Periodic Discharges; Hv-CJD=Heidenhain Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease; MRI=Magnetic Resonance Imaging; NCSE=Non-convulsive Status Epilepticus; PrPC=Normal Prion Proteins; PrPSC=Pathological Prion Protein; RT-QuIC=Real Time Quaking Induced Conversion; vCJD=Variant Creutzfedlt-Jakob Disease