title: Clinical changes and EEG patterns preceding the onset of periodic sharp wave complexes in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
abstract: The conversion of EEG findings and the evolution of clinical signs was investigated in 7 CJD patients who underwent serial EEG recordings along the course. At the onset of PSWC (mean 8.7 weeks), 5 patients had already progressed to akinetic mutism (characterized by loss of verbal contact and directed responses); and a CJD-typical-movement disorder (myoclonia, exaggerated startle reaction or focal dyskinesia) had started in 5 patients. When akinetic mutism commenced (on average at 7.5 weeks), runs of frontal intermittent non-peaked rhythmical delta activity (FIRDA) were found in all cases. These were later replaced by PSWC in 6 patients (interval 1 to 3 weeks). Occurrence of PSWC was often negatively related to external stimuli (2 of 6 cases), and sedative medication (all patients tested). We conclude that the selection of EEG recording dates to detect PSWC in CJD-candidates should be guided by detailed information about movement disorders and conscious level. Regarding the short survival time after their onset (average 8 weeks), PSWC usually mark the terminal stage of CJD. To detect PSWC, especially, EEG registrations in advanced stages are often necessary. In earlier disease stages, FIRDA-like EEG activities should be regarded as compatible with this diagnosis, and encourage further EEG studies for the demonstration of PSWC in a more advanced stage of CJD.
authors.affiliation: Neurological Department, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zschocke
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Stürenburg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kunze
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000405:Akinetic Mutism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D003700:Delta Rhythm; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011379:Prognosis; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015996:Survival Rate