Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in a Young Adult with Idiopathic Hypopituitarism: Possible Relation to the Administration of Cadaveric Human Growth Hormone

CREUTZFELDT—JAKOB disease, a transmissible subacute degeneration of the central nervous system, is generally considered a disease of older adults.¹ We recently evaluated a 20-year-old man with idiopathic hypopituitarism and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in whom Creutzfeldt—Jakob disease developed. Since early childhood he had received cadaveric human growth hormone, as well as insulin, thyroid hormone, and more recently testosterone. Case Report The patient, a 20-year-old man, was referred to the University of California, San Francisco, for evaluation of progressive gait instability. His history was complicated by multiple deficiencies of pituitary hormones from infancy, as well as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Hypopituitarism was suggested.