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GTR Home > Conditions/Phenotypes > Fatal familial insomnia

Summary

Excerpted from the GeneReview: Genetic Prion Disease
Genetic prion disease generally manifests with cognitive difficulties, ataxia, and myoclonus (abrupt jerking movements of muscle groups and/or entire limbs). The order of appearance and/or predominance of these features and other associated neurologic and psychiatric findings vary. The three major phenotypes of genetic prion disease are genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (gCJD), fatal familial insomnia (FFI), and Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker (GSS) syndrome. Although these phenotypes display overlapping clinical and pathologic features, recognition of these phenotypes can be useful when providing affected individuals and their families with information about the expected clinical course. The age at onset typically ranges from 50 to 60 years. The disease course ranges from a few months in gCJD and FFI to a few (up to 4, and in rare cases up to 10) years in GSS syndrome.

Available tests

26 tests are in the database for this condition.

Check Related conditions for additional relevant tests.

Genes See tests for all associated and related genes

  • Also known as: ASCR, AltPrP, CD230, CJD, GSS, KURU, PRIP, PrP, PrP27-30, PrP33-35C, PrPc, p27-30, PRNP
    Summary: prion protein (Kanno blood group)

Clinical features

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