Familial Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease with E200K mutation presenting with neurosensorial hypoacusis

Summary

Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) is characterised by rapidly progressive dementia, myoclonus, ataxia, visual disturbances and motor dysfunction. Most of the cases are sporadic. Only 10% to 15% are familial, and the most frequent point mutation is E200K. A 53-year-old man presented with subacute progressive bilateral hypoacusis, with tinnitus in the left ear. During the following months, his hypoacusis worsened and he progressively developed bilateral stocking-type paresthaesia and gait instability. An audiometric examination showed bilateral neurosensorial hypoacusis and nerve conduction studies showed a mixed axonal polyneuropathy. A CT scan and MRI of the brain were normal and the electroencephalography (EEG) showed non-specific changes. He died of respiratory infection 10 months after onset of symptoms. Neuropathological examination showed neuronal loss, punctate, synaptic-like deposits of protease-resistant prionic protein (PrP^RES) in the cerebral and cerebellar cortices and auditory nuclei. This is a rare case of sporadic CJD presenting with hearing loss.