The results of a specialised test on a young man suspected of having variant CJD have confirmed he has the fatal brain disease, writes Dr Muiris Houston, Medical Correspondent.
The Irish Times has learned that a biopsy of one of the patient's tonsils has shown the presence of prion, the rogue protein known to cause both vCJD in humans and BSE in cattle. The test results mean the Republic has now recorded its first case of indigenous vCJD.
Late last month a Dublin hospital said it was treating a man in his early 20s with suspected vCJD. Last night it said: "The result of a further test carried out on the young man suspected of having vCJD makes it most unlikely that the diagnosis pertaining to this patient is anything other than vCJD".
While there is no definitive blood test to diagnose vCJD, the presence of prion in immune system tissue in the tonsils, coupled with a characteristic appearance of the brain on MRI scan, has put the diagnosis beyond doubt.
The consultant neurologist looking after the patient said his family had been informed of the results. "They have asked that their privacy be respected. It has been a very traumatic time for them," he said.
The man may be offered experimental treatment in the future, aimed at prolonging his survival. vCJD remains a fatal condition, with an average survival time of 13 months.
Given that the patient has never had surgery or has never given or received blood, medical sources said it was almost certain the man had contracted the disease from eating infected beef. However, they rated the likelihood of the case having consequences for public health as negligible.
Prof Bill Hall, chairman of the State's CJD advisory group, said: "The confirmation of the occurrence of vCJD in the Republic is not unexpected".