The Link Between Blood Transfusion and Brain Amyloidosis: A Cause for Concern?

Experimental and clinical data suggest that misfolding of the amyloid β peptide, a key component of Alzheimer's disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), can be transmitted prion-like. Studies have shown the development of cerebral amyloid deposition after intracerebral injection of amyloid β in animals, and similar findings have been observed in humans treated with pituitary-derived human growth hormone. Clinical reports have also linked iatrogenic CAA cases to neurosurgical procedures involving cadaveric grafts. While this represents a devastating illness for affected individuals, it is only a small portion of the overall burden of CAA and Alzheimer's disease.