Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and blood transfusion-related risk in 1998

As both iatrogenic and experimental transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disea se (CJD) have been demonstrated, potential blood transfusion-related CJD th rough blood component contamination is not unlikely. Recent studies also su ggest that B lymphocytes would play a crucial role in the disease pathogene sis. However, to date, there is no epidemiological evidence suggesting that classical transmission of CJD would involve B lymphocytes. To reduce the t heoretical risk of such transmission and as no biological marker of the dis ease is currently available, at-risk blood donors are excluded and leukocyt e depletion has been introduced. Furthermore, the recent discovery of a new variant of the disease (nwCJD) which is caused by the bovine agent and has typical tropism for lymphoreticular tissues should lead to close surveilla nce. (C) 1999 Elsevier, Paris.