Hereditary prion protein amyloidoses

Abstract

Prion protein (PrP) amyloid accumulation is the pathologic hallmark of some inherited prion diseases such as Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease (GSS) and PrP cerebral amyloid angiopathy (PrP-CAA). In GSS, parenchymal amyloidosis may coexist with spongiform degeneration or neurofibrillary tangles, whereas in PrP-CAA, vascular amyloid coexists with neurofibrillary tangles. In GSS, N-truncated and C-truncated proteinase K-resistant PrP isoforms are present in the brain.