title: Detection of JC virus by polymerase chain reaction in cerebrospinal fluid from two patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
abstract: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify JC virus (JCV) in the cerebrospinal fluid of two patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy confirmed by brain biopsy. In addition, JCV viremia was demonstrated by PCR in one case. JCV detection in spinal fluid by PCR may be the first non-invasive technique available for the diagnostic confirmation of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Telenti
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Aksamit
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Smilack
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006801:Humans; D007577:JC Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000382:microbiology; D014766:Viremia / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral