Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Oman: report of two cases.

Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) was diagnosed in two Oman Arab men, aged 50 and 75 years respectively, both with a history of rapidly developing dementia and myoclonic jerks. Illness developed over a period of 3 months in the first case and over six months in the second. Electroencephalography in both subjects showed periodic triphasic sharp waves characteristic of CJD. In neither case was it possible to obtain a brain biopsy or perform autopsy (autopsy is contrary to Islamic practice in the Middle East), however, electrophoresis of cerebrospinal fluid from the second patient revealed the distinctive double protein spots characteristic of CJD. This is the first report of CJD from Oman.