Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease /kroits″felt yä″kôp/ [Hans G. Creutzfeldt, German neurologist, 1885–1964; Alfons M. Jakob, German neurologist, 1884–1931] , a rare fatal encephalopathy caused by infectious prion particles. The disease occurs in middle age. It is the human variant of mad cow disease. Also called Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease, spastic pseudoparalysis, spastic pseudosclerosis, prion disease. ▪ OBSERVATIONS: Symptoms are progressive and include dementia, dysarthria, muscle wasting, and various involuntary movements such as myoclonus and athetosis. Deterioration is obvious week to week. ▪ INTERVENTIONS: Transmission between humans is unusual, but the disease has been observed years after exposure to needles, instruments, and electrodes previously used in the treatment of a patient with the disease. Isolation is not necessary. Special care in disposal or sterilization of potentially infective items is always necessary. The goal of the health care team is to make the patient as comfortable as possible. ▪ PATIENT CARE CONSIDERATIONS: There is no known cure. Most patients will die within a year.
