title: Visual loss due to progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a heart transplant patient.
abstract: A 59-year-old male heart transplant recipient experienced progressive visual loss following routine cataract surgery with intraocular lens implantation. Cranial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging suggested and brain biopsy confirmed the cause to be progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The patient died 2 months following cataract surgery. This case illustrates that visual failure may be the initial manifestation of PML, and the ophthalmologist should be aware of this central demyelinating disorder when dealing with immunocompromised patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Pinkard
mesh_terms: D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields