Expert: Scott Roseff, MD, FACOG - 4/28/2002

Question
Hi Dr. Roseff:
I have a 10 yr. eating disorder history now under control for 5 yrs---the cause of my infertility.

I took clomid 1 yr. ago & at the highest dosage it did not appear to make me ovulate but to my and my dr's surprise, that month I did become pregnant and gave birth to a healthy girl.

I was close to gonadotrophins injections (FSH).  Next month we are trying clomid again but I may need injection treatment.

My first question has to do with Gonadotrophins and Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (CJD). I read that CJD is the human disease name of Spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) disease in cattle known as mad cow disease.  

Recently, a person from our small community died of what they believe may be a form of CJD now found in deer.  I'm from the Midwest and recently some of the deer came down with "Chronic Wasting Disease".  The health professionals/news media aren't discussing the relation between CJD and the wasting disease but the family members of the person who died from infected deer meat have been informing our community.

I read articles the family members pointed us to and to my SURPRISE..... it said CJD/death has been proven to be caused by human pituitary gland hormone injections.  It appears from my research that the United States hasn't really touched this topic.  

Have you ever heard of this? Do you know if the problem still exists or if it was back in the 1980's and early 1990's?  Do you know if there has been success filtering the CJD agent out of the pituitary hormones being injected into infertile women?  I haven't found any statistics on how common or rare it is that it's found in these injections.  I'm hoping it is so uncommon that I should be worryfree to go ahead with injection treatment if needed.

Thanks for your attention to this long question. It still amazes me that I came upon this issue while reading an article on CDJ in humans being a form of mad cow disease and the chances that this may be showing up in deer in the Midwest.

Shari  

Answer
Hi Shari,
Injectable fertility drugs used to be manufactured from human pituitary extracts, but since that WAS proven to be linked to CJD, that process was abandoned many years ago.

The injectable fertility drugs today are made from either postmenopausal women's urine or via recombinant technology.  You should read more about this at one of the fertility drug company's websites at http://www.seronousa.com/fertility/frame_treat.html?hormonal.html

I hope this is helpful information for you!
Dr. Roseff, Director W.E. C.A.R.E.
Visit us at www.reproendo.com
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