Update: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Associated with Cadaveric Dura Mater Grafts — Japan, 1979–2003

• Published in: MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report Vol. 52; no. 48; pp. 1179 - 1181
• Main Authors: Watanabe, M, Schonberger, LB, Nagoshi, K, Mizusawa, H, Sejvar, J, Belay, E, Kitamoto, T, Maddox, R, Nakamura, Y, Yamada, M, Sato, T
• Format: Journal Article Newsletter
• Language: English
• Published: United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 05.12.2003; U.S. Government Printing Office; U.S. Center for Disease Control
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age of Onset; Aged; Brain; Causes of; Collagen; Complications and side effects; Creutzfeldt Jakob syndrome; Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome - epidemiology; Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome - transmission; Dura mater; Dura Mater - transplantation; Dura Mater - virology; Female; Humans; Japan - epidemiology; Male; Medical equipment and supplies industry; Medical schools; Medical test kit industry; Medication administration; Middle Aged; Neurology; Process engineering; Product defects and recalls; Public health; Risk factors; Skin & tissue grafts; Statistics; Surveillance; Time Factors; Tissue grafting; Tissue Transplantation - adverse effects; Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc; Japan; Germany
• ISSN: 0149-2195; 1545-861X

In 1997, a nongovernment surveillance group for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in Japan supported financially by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW) reported 43 cases of CJD associated with receipt of cadaveric dura mater grafts. In all but one case, the most probable vehicle of transmission was a single brand of dural graft (LYODURA [B. Braun Melsungen AG, Melsungen, Germany]) produced before May 1987. As of March 2003, ongoing surveillance in Japan had identified an additional 54 dura mater graft--associated cases. This report summarizes the investigation of the 97 cases, which indicated that during 1983-1987, the estimated minimum risk for CJD within 17 years of receipt of the implicated product in Japan was approximately one case per 1,250 grafts. No cases have been reported among patients who received their first dural graft after 1991; however, because of the long latency period between graft placement and symptom onset, additional cases of graft-associated CJD are likely to be reported.