Spatial patterns of the vacuolation in subcortical white matter in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD)

Richard A. Armstrong, Peter L. Lantos, Nigel J. Cairns

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study the spatial patterns of the vacuolation ("spongiform change") in the subcortical white matter in the "classical" form of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). MATERIAL: Frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal lobes of 11 cases of sCJD. METHOD: Spatial patterns were studied across the white matter at the base of the gyri using spatial pattern analysis. RESULTS: In the white matter of all gyri studied, vacuoles were aggregated into clusters, 50 to > 800 microm in diameter and in 22/37 (59%) of gyri, the clusters of vacuoles exhibited a regular distribution across the base of the gyri. In the remaining gyri, the vacuoles were aggregated into large clusters, at least 400 microm or 800 microm in diameter, but without evidence of a regular distribution. In a significant proportion of gyri, the spatial patterns of the vacuolation were similar to those reported previously for spongiform change and prion protein (PrP) deposits in the corresponding grey matter. CONCLUSIONS: Degeneration of the white matter and the formation of clusters of vacuoles may occur before the degeneration of the grey matter or could be a consequence of pathology affecting the cortico-cortical pathways.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)284-288
Number of pages5
JournalClinical Neuropathology
Volume21
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2002

Keywords

  • sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob-disease (sCJD)
  • white matter
  • cerebral cortex
  • vacuolation
  • cortico-cortical pathways

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