Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy

Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy
Protease senstitive and resistant prionopathies coexisting in this immunohistological test

Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy (VPSPr) (formerly known as Protease Sensitive Prionopathy) is a sporadic prion protein disease identified in 2008[1] and first described in 2010 by Zou W.Q. and coworkers from the United States National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center.[2]

VPSPr is very rare, occurring in just 2 or 3 out of every 100 million people.[3] As of 2018, fourteen cases have been reported in the UK.[4] It has similarities to Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, but clinical manifestations differ somewhat, and the abnormal prion protein (PrP) is less resistant to digestion by proteases; some variants are more sensitive to proteases than others, hence the name: variably protease-sensitive.

Patients present with psychiatric symptoms, speech deficits (aphasia and/or dysarthria) and cognitive impairment. Ataxia and parkinsonism can develop. Average age at onset is 70 years, and duration of survival is 24 months. About 40% of patients have a family history of dementia.

Diagnosis is difficult. MRI, EEG and tests for 14-3-3 protein and tau protein are usually not helpful, and no mutations have been observed in the coding region of the PrP gene.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Merck Manual - Variably Protease-Sensitive Prionopathy (VPSPr)". Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Zou, W.; Puoti, G.; Xiao, X.; Yuan, J.; Qing, L.; Cali, I.; Shimoji, M.; Langeveld, J.; Castellani, R.; Notari, S.; Crain, B.; Schmidt, R. E.; Geschwind, M.; Dearmond, S. J.; Cairns, N. J.; Dickson, D.; Honig, L.; Torres, J. M.; Mastrianni, J.; Capellari, S.; Giaccone, G.; Belay, E. D.; Schonberger, L. B.; Cohen, M.; Perry, G.; Kong, Q.; Parchi, P.; Tagliavini, F.; Gambetti, P. (2010). "Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy: A new sporadic disease of the prion protein". Annals of Neurology. 68 (2): 162–172. doi:10.1002/ana.22094. PMC 3032610. PMID 20695009.
  3. ↑ "Variably Protease-Sensitive Prionopathy (VPSPr) - Neurologic Disorders - Merck Manuals Professional Edition". Merck Manuals Professional Edition. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
  4. ↑ "Creutzfeldt - Jakob disease in the UK (By calendar year)" (PDF). Retrieved 4 July 2018.
Classification
External resources
  • Caroline Parkinson (13 August 2010). "Brain disease could affect more people, research finds". BBC News.


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