Diagnosing variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: a retrospective analysis of the first 150 cases in the UK

Abstract

Early clinical diagnosis in vCJD is not possible in the great majority of cases because of non-specific initial symptoms. Once neurological signs develop, a diagnosis is usually made promptly but this is often at a relatively advanced stage of illness. The inherent delays in the diagnosis of vCJD have implications for those involved in both public health and therapeutics.