Prion diseases (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies - TSE) are one of the most serious diseases causing a progressive dementia syndrome and life limiting prognosis. These diseases are caused by pathological proteinaceous infectious particles (prions).
The most common human prion disease is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). In diagnostic process of prion diseases we can use knowledge of clinical symptoms of diseases and also laboratory examinations (EEG, MRI, cerebrospinal fluid).
Final diagnosis of prion diseases is based on neurohistopathology and genetic examination. No causal treatment is currently available and treatment is only symptomatic.