Central apnea in a sporadic case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease with brainstem involvement

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Central apnea in a sporadic case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease with brainstem involvement

2010, N° 1 (Vol. 110/1) p.113-115

Jordi Gascon-Bayarri(1), Jaume Campdelacreu(1), Carmen Monasterio(2), Enric Prats(2), Isidre Ferrer(3) and Ramon Reñé1

1Unitat de Diagnòstic i Tractament de les Demències, Neurology Service, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; 2Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge; 3Institute of Neuropathology, Servei Anatomia Patològica, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge

Abstract:

We report a patient with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease with somnolence as an initial manifestation and sleep apneas as a prominent sign. A respiratory polygraphy revealed the presence of a continuous Cheyne-Stokes pattern both awake and during sleep with central apneas. The neuropathology showed PrP deposition in brainstem involving respiratory nuclei. Central apnea is a rare manifestation of CJD that can be observed from early stages and may be related with PrP deposition in brainstem structures.