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From: TSS ()
Press Statement 9 February 2006 New case of variant CJD associated with blood transfusion A new case of variant-CJD associated with a blood transfusion has recently been diagnosed. The patient developed symptoms of vCJD about 8 years after receiving a blood transfusion from a donor who developed symptoms of vCJD about 20 months after donating this blood. The patient is still alive and is under the care of doctors at the National Prion Clinic. This third occurrence of vCJD infection associated with blood transfusion is further evidence that vCJD can be transmitted between humans by blood transfusion. All three cases to date relate to the transfusion of blood components and not treatment with plasma products. The patient is one of a small number (less than 30) of living individuals who are known to have received a blood transfusion in the UK from a donor who later developed vCJD. All these individuals have previously been informed of their potential exposure to vCJD and asked to take certain precautions to reduce the chance of passing on vCJD on to other people via healthcare procedures, such as surgery. Professor Peter Borriello, Director of the HPA's Centre for Infections said, “The occurrence of a third case of vCJD infection in a small group of patients like this suggests that blood transfusion from an infected donor may be a relatively efficient mechanism for the transmission of vCJD, although much still remains unknown. This underlines the importance of the existing precautions that have been introduced to reduce the risk of transmitting vCJD infection through blood transfusion. “We have been in contact with the doctors caring for the other patients who have been exposed to blood transfusion from donors who later developed vCJD. This is to ensure that these patients are informed of this new development and have access to the latest information and to specialist advice about their situation.” Dr Angela Robinson, Medical Director of NHS Blood and Transplant said, “Our thoughts go out to the patient and their family. Our prime concern is always the safety of patients through maintaining the quality of blood and we have introduced a range of precautionary measures against the risk of vCJD. Blood transfusion is often a life saving treatment and the benefit of receiving a blood transfusion when needed far outweighs any possible risks” vCJD is a rare disease, and only less than 2% of the 160 vCJD cases to date in the UK have been associated with blood transfusion. Notes to Editors 1. ‘Blood Transfusion' means transfusion with labile blood components (e.g. red cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma). This latest case (and the previous two referred to) relate to transfusion of blood components and not treatment with plasma products (i.e. products that are manufactured from plasma). To date, no case of vCJD has been associated with treatment with plasma-products (e.g. clotting factors used to treat individuals with bleeding disorders such as haemophilia). 2. This third case has been classified by the National CJD Surveillance Unit (http://www.cjd.ed.ac.uk ) as a ‘probable' case of vCJD. Of the 154 vCJD cases that have died, all 110 that have undergone post-mortem (44 have not) have been ‘confirmed' by neuropathological examination (examination of brain tissue). 3. The first clinical case of vCJD associated with transfusion was identified in December 2003. A case vCJD 'infection' associated with transfusion was identified a few months later. (the patient had no symptoms but evidence of infection (abnormal prion proteins) was identified in a post mortem investigation. The individual died from causes unrelated to vCJD. 4. Following the first case of vCJD associated with a blood transfusion in 2003, the Department of Health asked all recipients of blood transfusions not to donate blood as a precautionary measure to protect the blood supply from vCJD. 5. Patients who have received blood transfusion (i.e. blood components) and certain patients who have received plasma products made from blood donated by a donor who later developed vCJD are informed that they are considered to be ‘at risk for public health purposes' and are asked to take the following precautions to reduce the chance of passing on vCJD to other people: Not to donate blood, tissues or organs and Since 1997 all cases of vCJD that are reported to the National CJD Surveillance Unit and diagnosed as having ‘probable' vCJD, result in a search of the UK Blood Services blood donor records. If the patient has donated blood, any unused parts of that blood are immediately removed from stock. The fate of all used components of blood from the donor is traced, and surviving recipients informed of their risk. 8. For further information contact the HPA press office on 0208 327 7098/7097/6055 9. The National Prion Unit is based at The Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square , London http://www.nationalprionclinic.org/ 10. For further information about vCJD go to: http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/cjd/menu.htm http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCareTopics/CJD/fs/en http://www.blood.co.uk/ http://www.cjd.ed.ac.uk http://www.nationalprionclinic.org/ http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpa/news/articles/press_releases/2006/060209_cjd.htmtss
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