Mad Cow Disease and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob (cont.)
Medical Author:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical EditorMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology. Medical Editor:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhDDr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications. IN THIS ARTICLE
Treatment of Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob DiseasePatients may be asked to stop taking any medications that could affect memory or cause confusion. A doctor may refer a person to specialists in neurology and infectious diseases, and the doctor will provide medications to ease symptoms. If patients develop seizures, for example, they may be given drugs to help control them. But the reality is that all prion diseases cause death. There are no effective treatments available. Progression from symptoms to diagnosis to death may be rapid (from eight months for sporadic CJD to up to 60 months for GSS). Continuing laboratory testing is looking at a number of medications to prevent development of prion disease in animals. Work continues on experimental vaccines to delay or prevent the effects of prion disease. Must Read Articles Related to Mad Cow Disease and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob
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Viewer Comments & ReviewsMad Cow Disease - SymptomsThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What were your symptoms of mad cow disease? |
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Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy »
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease, and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) are related disorders.
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