HC Deb 07 April 1998 vol 310 c196W
Dr. Gibson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if all the victims of nv-CJD have the same genetic change in the prion protein. [37871]

Ms Jowell

In all cases of new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (nvCJD) where a genetic analysis has been carried out, the prion protein gene has the same genetic make-up. The significance of the genetic make-up in relation to susceptibility to disease, to the length of incubation period or to the changes seen in the brain on histopathological examination is not yet known.

All nvCJD cases tested share the same protein-subtype. It is not known whether this is related to the genetic make-up of the person affected. It may be related to the strain of the infectious agent.

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