Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGPClinical Lead • iatroX
In a primary care setting, no specific diagnostic tests for confirming Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) are recommended. Instead, if CJD is suspected, especially in cases of rapidly progressive dementia, the person should be referred urgently to a neurological specialist service that has access to appropriate diagnostic tests, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination and other specialized investigations for CJD and similar conditions.
Primary care assessment should focus on identifying reversible causes of cognitive decline and referring the patient to specialist dementia diagnostic services or neurological services as appropriate.
Key References
- NG97 - Dementia: assessment, management and support for people living with dementia and their carers
- CKS - Dementia
- NG95 - Lyme disease
- CKS - Healthcare-associated infections
- NG206 - Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management
- CKS - Parkinson's disease
- CKS - Syphilis