Multidisciplinary recommendations for palliative and supportive care in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and related disorders.
Prion diseases, of which Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is the most common, are fatal neurodegenerative disorders and are often rapidly progressive. They are associated with a significant palliative care burden for patients and families, ranging from prognostic uncertainty to complex symptom management to caregiver distress. Healthcare professionals face unique pressures when caring for these patients, which can include a lack of familiarity with this rare diagnosis and rapidly evolving symptom needs due to accelerated clinical deterioration. We convened a multidisciplinary panel of experts from around the UK, including palliative care doctors, general practitioners, physician and nurse specialists in prion diseases, and a lived experience representative to compile practical, consensus-based recommendations for managing prion diseases, much of which can also be applied to other rapidly progressive dementias. In this article, we examine the available evidence base for managing various aspects of prion diseases. Where evidence is limited, we suggest best practices informed by decades of our collective experiences.
Authors
Ng Ng, Grundy Grundy, Appleby Appleby, Awe Awe, Carey Carey, Chan Chan, Chin Chin, Diver Diver, Hermann Hermann, Kovacevich Kovacevich, Kupeli Kupeli, Marasigan Marasigan, Marsh Marsh, Martin Martin, Matsuzono Matsuzono, McDermott McDermott, McNiven McNiven, Miller Miller, Pauli Pauli, Quibell Quibell, Ritchie Ritchie, Ruck Keene Ruck Keene, Sampson Sampson, Turner Turner, Williams Williams, Yamada Yamada, Zerr Zerr, Bajorek Bajorek, Doughty Herrera-Carrasco Doughty Herrera-Carrasco, Kennard Kennard, O'Donnell O'Donnell, Knight Knight, Collinge Collinge, Mead Mead, Bradley Bradley
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