title: Successful outcome of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with cytarabine and interferon.
abstract: The prognosis of patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is poor, with few patients showing remission or surviving. We describe a 37-year-old man who developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in association with sarcoidosis. Despite treatment with cytarabine and acyclovir, he continued to deteriorate. Shortly following the addition of interferon alfa, he made a dramatic improvement, regaining full functional independence. The use of interferon alfa in addition to cytarabine in such patients offers a new therapeutic approach worthy of further trial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Steiger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tarnesby
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gabe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Schapira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D007372:Interferons