title: [Neuropathology of non conventional infectious agents or prions].
abstract: The neuropathological diagnosis of infections by non conventional agents relies on four lesions: astrocytic gliosis (cell hypertrophy and proliferation) usually contrasting with absent mononuclear cell infiltrates (lymphocytes, monocytes-macrophages, and/or microglia) revealed by conventional techniques, and neuronal loss in the most affected areas are little specific findings. Amyloid plaques that are inconstantly found, and spongiosis of gray matter, a characteristic and very frequent finding, are most specific. PrP immunohistochemistry brings additional data. The main diagnostic difficulties are emphasized, and guidelines for Pathological studies are recalled.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Neuropathologie R. Escourolle, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Université Paris VI, INSERM U 360, Association Claude Bernard, France.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hauw
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Naccache
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seilhean
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Camilleri
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mokhtari
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duyckaerts
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016643:Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D016098:Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007729:Kuru / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
vernacular_title: Neuropathologie des agents infectieux non conventionnels ou prions.