About 8,000 patients in the United States received NHPP growth hormone. Of these, we now believe that 22 may have developed CJD. Six overseas patients who received hGH from U.S. labs that produced the hormone for NHPP may also have developed CJD. The experts who help us with the follow-up study have concluded that a CJD diagnosis is confirmed or likely in 19 U.S. cases. We are still evaluating the medical records of three suspected U.S. cases. (Source: excerpt from Update Follow-Up Study of NHPP Growth Hormone Recipients: NIDDK)
CJD takes a long time to develop. Because most patients received growth hormone for many years, we do not know exactly when they were exposed to CJD. In U.S. patients, average CJD onset was 19 years after the midpoint of hGH treatment. CJD developed as soon as 4 years and as long as 25 years after stopping therapy, and from 14 years to 33 years after starting treatment. (Source: excerpt from Update Follow-Up Study of NHPP Growth Hormone Recipients: NIDDK)
Another misdiagnosis possibility is that a particular medication or substance may be the real cause of the disease. Certain medications, chemicals, toxins or substances may possibly be underlying causes of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. Side effects of medications, or exposure to toxins, chemicals, or other substances may cause a symptom or condition. Hence, they become possible underlying causes of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease but are often misdiagnosed or overlooked as a cause. For a general overview of this misdiagnosis issue, see Medication Underlying Cause Misdiagnosis.
What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:
Next articles:
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Search Specialists by State and City
By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use. Information provided on this site is for informational purposes only; it is not intended as a substitute for advice from your own medical team. The information on this site is not to be used for diagnosing or treating any health concerns you may have - please contact your physician or health care professional for all your medical needs. Please see our Terms of Use.
Copyright © 2009 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved.
Whenever you go to a hospital or clinic for a major procedure or diagnostic test, one of the many forms you are given to sign is an "informed...
Germs are a fact of life and catching an infectious disease like a cold may seem inevitable. But there are simple ways to protect yourself against...
Stress takes its toll by making us anxious, depressed and not able to function as fully as we'd like. What many don't know is that stress can...
Sleep is necessary to feel refreshed, but now we know sleep actually impacts the way the body functions. Sleeping poorly can affect how often you get...