Prion diseases

Publication date: Available online 21 October 2016 Source:Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine Author(s): Michelle Leemans The prion diseases, or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), are a group of neurodegenerative diseases. They are caused by an abnormal form of a naturally occurring cellular protein, known as prion protein. All prion diseases are fatal and without cure. Although all are rare, interest has increased over the last 20 years due to the appearance of a new prion disease called variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease. This disease is transmissible via medical devices and blood and therefore has implications for the anaesthetist, especially where blood transfusions and the use of airway devices and fibreoptic equipment are concerned.

Source: Anaesthesia and intensive care medicine - October 28, 2016 Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research