J Epidemiol. 2000 Nov; 10(6): 399-402.

A case-control study of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Japan: transplantation of cadaveric dura mater was a risk factor.

Nakamura Y, Oki I, Tanihara S, Ojima T, Yanagawa H, Kitamoto T, Sato T.

Department of Public Health, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.

A case-control study was conducted to reveal the relative risk of cadaveric dura mater graft transplantation for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Fifty-two cases with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease that were reported to the surveillance of the disease, and 102 age- and sex-matched hospital controls were selected. Information on family history, occupations, and medical history was collected. Eight cases and no control had a history of cadaveric dura mater graft transplantation. Surgical operations without the dura mater graft, blood transfusion, and acupuncture did not elevate the risk.