Prevalence of risk factors of prion-related disease according to the French circular 138 (DGS/DH/5C/DHOS/E2/2001/138) among patients referred for gastrointestinal endoscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of risk factors of prion-related disease transmission in a gastrointestinal endoscopy unit.


METHODS
Clinical evaluation of the risk of transmission of prion-related diseases using the criteria defined by the French circular 138 in patients referred for digestive endoscopy without anesthesia.


RESULTS
1017 patients were included in this study. According to circular 138, 7 patients (0.68%) were at high risk of transmitting prion-related disease. According to these criteria, a high index of suspicion of prion-related disease was detected in 26 patients (2.55%). Clinical evaluation of risk was not possible for 56 patients (5.51%), due to coma or sedation (38 patients) or communication impairment (18 patients).


CONCLUSIONS
Application of circular 138 led us to consider that 2.55% of patients in this study had a high risk of prion-related disease. The circular criteria cannot be assessed in patients with sedation for mechanical ventilation, coma or communication impairment.
Bulois
Philippe
P
Service des maladies de l'appareil digestif, Hôpital Claude Huriez, Urgence Respiratoire et Réanimation Médicale, France. p-bulois@chru-lille.fr
Maunoury
Vincent
V
Houcke
Philippe
P
Durocher
Alain
A
Durocher
Anne-Marie
AM
Pasquier
Florence
F
Paris
Jean-Claude
JC
D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017096:Prion Diseases; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors