open access

Vol 46, No 6 (2012)
ARTYKUŁ ORYGINALNY
Submitted: 2011-10-13
Get Citation

Hereditary form of prion disease in Poland

Janusz Zimowski1, Jerzy Kulczycki2, Wanda Łojkowska2, Grażyna Szpak3, Wioletta Krysa1, Walentyna Szirkowiec1, Anna Limon-Sztencel4, Jacek Zaremba1
DOI: 10.5114/ninp.2012.32353
·
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2012;46(6):509-518.
Affiliations
  1. Katedra Pediatrii, Zakład Genetyki Medycznej, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Collegium Medicum, Wielicka 265, 30663 Kraków, Poland
  2. II Klinika Neurologii, Instytut Psychiatrii i Neurologii w Warszawie
  3. Zakład Neuropatologii, Instytut Medycyny Doświadczalnej i Klinicznej im. M. Mossakowskiego Polskiej Akademii Nauk, Warszawa, Poland
  4. Klinika Psychiatrii Rozwojowej, Zaburzeń Psychotycznych i Wieku Podeszłego, Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny

open access

Vol 46, No 6 (2012)
ARTYKUŁ ORYGINALNY
Submitted: 2011-10-13

Abstract

Background and purpose

The aim of the study was to perform molecular analysis in a group of patients affected with prion disease. Diagnosis was based on results of clinical and/or histopathological examination of the brain. This is the largest investigation of this type performed so far in Poland.

Material and methods

Analysed material contained 36 cases of prion disease, including 35 cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and one case of Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease, as well as two familial cases initially suspected of Huntington disease and Alzheimer disease. The control group consisted of 87 subjects. The most frequent known mutations in the PRNP gene were looked for, namely those in codons 102, 117, 178, 200, 217 and OPRI; the polymorphism Met/Val in codon 129 was also analysed. The methods applied were PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing.

Results

The following mutations were found: E200K in 5 families, P102L in one family (previously identified), D178N in one family and 6OPRI in one family. Overall, mutations were detected in 17 persons (including 8 preclinical ones) from 8 pedigrees. Highly significant difference of codon 129 Met/Val heterozygosity frequencies was found between the affected subjects and the controls. Frequency of the familial form of prion disease in the material analysed was 14%.

Conclusions

Screening for mutations in the PRNP gene should be performed in all diagnosed cases of prion disease and cases of familial occurrence of early onset dementia of unknown aetiology. Families with identified mutations should be offered genetic counselling and informed of risks of blood and organs’ donation.

Abstract

Background and purpose

The aim of the study was to perform molecular analysis in a group of patients affected with prion disease. Diagnosis was based on results of clinical and/or histopathological examination of the brain. This is the largest investigation of this type performed so far in Poland.

Material and methods

Analysed material contained 36 cases of prion disease, including 35 cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and one case of Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease, as well as two familial cases initially suspected of Huntington disease and Alzheimer disease. The control group consisted of 87 subjects. The most frequent known mutations in the PRNP gene were looked for, namely those in codons 102, 117, 178, 200, 217 and OPRI; the polymorphism Met/Val in codon 129 was also analysed. The methods applied were PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing.

Results

The following mutations were found: E200K in 5 families, P102L in one family (previously identified), D178N in one family and 6OPRI in one family. Overall, mutations were detected in 17 persons (including 8 preclinical ones) from 8 pedigrees. Highly significant difference of codon 129 Met/Val heterozygosity frequencies was found between the affected subjects and the controls. Frequency of the familial form of prion disease in the material analysed was 14%.

Conclusions

Screening for mutations in the PRNP gene should be performed in all diagnosed cases of prion disease and cases of familial occurrence of early onset dementia of unknown aetiology. Families with identified mutations should be offered genetic counselling and informed of risks of blood and organs’ donation.

Get Citation

Keywords

prion diseases, genetics, PRNP gene, mutations, neuropathology

About this article
Title

Hereditary form of prion disease in Poland

Journal

Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska

Issue

Vol 46, No 6 (2012)

Pages

509-518

Page views

291

Article views/downloads

467

DOI

10.5114/ninp.2012.32353

Bibliographic record

Neurol Neurochir Pol 2012;46(6):509-518.

Keywords

prion diseases
genetics
PRNP gene
mutations
neuropathology

Authors

Janusz Zimowski
Jerzy Kulczycki
Wanda Łojkowska
Grażyna Szpak
Wioletta Krysa
Walentyna Szirkowiec
Anna Limon-Sztencel
Jacek Zaremba

Regulations

Important: This website uses cookies. More >>

The cookies allow us to identify your computer and find out details about your last visit. They remembering whether you've visited the site before, so that you remain logged in - or to help us work out how many new website visitors we get each month. Most internet browsers accept cookies automatically, but you can change the settings of your browser to erase cookies or prevent automatic acceptance if you prefer.

By VM Media Group sp. z o.o., ul. Świętokrzyska 73, 80–180 Gdańsk, Poland
tel.:+48 58 320 94 94, fax:+48 58 320 94 60, e-mail: viamedica@viamedica.pl