§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will now test the tonsil and appendix samples that were rejected from the tests for nvCJD using one of the tests that does not require the sample to be in good condition. [HL3443]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathTo the best of our knowledge, there is no test for variant CreutzfeldtJakob Disease that does not require a tonsil or appendix sample to be in good condition to give a meaningful result.
Some samples in the retrospective studies on tonsil and appendixes were unsuitable for analysis because they were found by scientists to be damaged, or otherwise of insufficient quality to enable analysis to be carried out. At the time the samples were taken, during routine surgery, there had been no intention of subjecting them to further analysis.
§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will offer tonsil biopsies and magnetic resonance scans to any residents of Leicestershire who wish to be assured that they do not have nvCJD. [HL3444]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathNo. Whilst tonsil biopsy or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, taken with other criteria, can enable clinicians to determine with reasonable confidence whether or not an individual showing clinical symptoms of the disease is suffering from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), there is still no test available to detect those who may be infected with vCJD but have no symptoms.
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§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether all the Leicestershire tonsil and appendix samples taken since 1985 are to be tested for nvCJD; if so, what test will be used on samples that are not in good condition; and, if not, what criteria will be used to exclude samples. [HL3447]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThere are significant logistical and ethical difficulties associated with the design of any studies of this type. Any proposal for such a study received by the Department of Health would need to undergo rigorous peer-review and ethical approval in line with procedures established for other similar studies.
The protocol for detecting abnormal prion protein in tonsil and appendix tissues requires the presence of sufficient lymphoid tissue in the sample. Results will not be obtainable from samples where there is insufficient lymphoid tissue present or the tissue has been so badly damaged that it is unsuitable for prion protein detection.
§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many children of nvCJD victims have moderate or severe neurological symptoms of unknown origin. [HL3446]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit (NCJDSU) is aware of one child of a variant CJD patient with neurological symptoms. The NCJDSU is not aware of any suspect cases of vCJD in a family member of a vCJD patient.
§ Lord Lucasasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are (to the nearest month) the date of onset, duration of illness and age at death for all victims of the nvCJD outbreak; and [HL3427]
What are (to the nearest month) the date of onset, duration of illness and age at death of the five nvCJD cases in the Leicestershire cluster; and [HL3445]
What are (to the nearest month) the date of onset and the current age of victims of nvCJD who are still living. [HL3448]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe date of onset, duration of illness and age at death, or current age if the patient is still alive, for all definite and probable variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease patients known to the National CJD Surveillance Unit on 20 July 2000 are set out in the table.
We cannot provide data relating to cases in a particular geographical location in order to preserve the anonymity of patients and their families.
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Date of Onset Duration (months) Age (Years) at Death Current Age (Years) if Alive January 1994 29 50 February 1994 23 29 March 1994 38 19 June 1994 11 19 July 1994 18 41
Date of Onset Duration (months) Age (Years) at Death Current Age (Years) if Alive August 1994 18 30 December 1994 26 28 December 1994 11 29 January 1995 17 30 January 1995 10 30 January 1995 13 20 March 1995 11 29 July 1995 14 35 August 1995 9 31 September 1995 30 33 October 1995 17 36 December 1995 14 25 December 1995 11 19 January 1996 17 23 January 1996 23 34 March 1996 12 19 March 1996 14 23 March 1996 25 24 May 1996 24 45 May 1996 29 24 October 1996 12 36 November 1996 8 27 December 1996 24 20 December 1996 33 17 February 1997 11 53 March 1997 39 21 July 1997 13 18 July 1997 13 25 July 1997 15 36 August 1997 16 29 October 1997 16 28 October 1997 12 35 November 1997 11 39 November 1997 11 20 November 1997 12 26 December 1997 14 17 December 1997 14 25 December 1997 12 24 January 1998 16 23 February 1998 11 51 February 1998 26 26 March 1998 8 21 April 1998 7 41 May 1998 14 39 May 1998 7 20 May 1998 18 33 June 1998 20 17 June 1998 14 25 July 1998 Alive Alive 14 July 1998 15 25 July 1998 22 24 September 1998 18 17 September 1998 18 17 October 1998 Alive Alive 30 January 1999 7 29 January 1999 9 54 February 1999 9 34 March 1999 16 20 April 1999 10 27 April 1999 13 19 April 1999 9 15 April 1999 12 22 May 1999 10 25 May 1999 12 31 June 1999 6 43 June 1999 Alive Alive 37 July 1999 11 51 August 1999 Alive Alive 21 October 1999 Alive Alive 28 November 1999 Alive Alive 24 November 1999 Alive Alive 29 December 1999 Alive Alive 27 January 2000 Alive Alive 25