Final answer:
CJD is diagnosed through symptoms like rapid cognitive decline and neurological symptoms, laboratory findings of 14-3-3 protein in CSF, EEG abnormalities, and histological examination of brain biopsies. Invariably fatal, CJD can be sporadic, hereditary, or acquired, with no cure available.
Step-by-step explanation:
Clinical Features and Laboratory Results for CJD Diagnosis
Clinical features and laboratory results that lead to a possible diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) include a rapid decline in cognitive function and neurological symptoms such as ataxia and myoclonus. Laboratory tests may show a high concentration of 14-3-3 protein in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities indicative of a neurodegenerative disease. The definitive diagnosis is typically made post-mortem, with a brain autopsy revealing the presence of characteristic amyloid plaques, vacuoles, and prion proteins. Prion diseases like CJD are often rapidly progressive and invariably fatal.
CJD can be sporadic, hereditary, or acquired through exposure to contaminated tissue. The gold standard for diagnosing TSEs, including CJD, involves histological examination of brain biopsies. While there is no treatment for CJD, some medications may help slow progression, and medical support aims to keep patients comfortable.