Can CJD be transmitted through the blood supply?
CMAJ 1998;158:714
Response from: J. Hoey, R. Rohwer
In response to: A. Giulivi
See also:
- Editorial: Human rights, ethics and the Krever inquiry
- Editorial: Is CreutzfeldtJakob disease transmitted in blood?
- Education: A prion primer
- Education: Notifying patients exposed to blood products associated with CreutzfeldtJakob disease: integrating science, legal duties and ethical mandates
- Public health: CreutzfeldtJakob disease: the Canadian situation
The editorial by Dr. Hoey was thoughtful and timely, but I was surprised by the statement that vCJD can be spread through the blood supply. I am not aware of any published data to support this assertion. Experts generally agree that there is only a theoretical risk of transmission of either CJD or vCJD through the transfusion or injection of blood components or fractionated plasma products. For example, the Irish Department of Health (and more recently the Belgian Health Ministry) decided to notify and provide counselling to recipients of a radiological dye manufactured from a plasma pool that included a United Kingdom blood donor who died of vCJD.1 A spokesman for the Irish Department of Health has been quoted as saying there was no evidence CJD could be transmitted by blood or blood products, but the injectable dye was withdrawn as "a precautionary measure."
If there is scientific evidence to support Hoey's statement, I would be most interested in finding out where to obtain the data. However, if the statement is incorrect, please consider publishing a correction.
Bryce Larke, MD
Deputy Medical Officer
Canadian Red Cross Society
Edmonton, Alta.
Reference
- Birchard K. Irish nvCJD concern. Lancet 1997;350:1830.
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