[Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy].
METHODS
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by infection and reactivation of JC-virus. About 5% of all HIV-infected patients develop this fatal disease. Although pathogenesis is not completely understood, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is thought to be a persistent infection. The kidneys, bone marrow, peripheral blood lymphocytes and the brain itself are candidates for latency sites of JC-virus. Loss of T-helper-cells in the course of HIV-infection or other immunosuppressive states result in reactivation of JC-virus.


METHODS
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy can be diagnosed by focal neurological symptoms, radiographic signs in magnetic resonance imaging and detection of JC-virus in brain tissue or cerebrospinal fluid.


METHODS
A specific therapy is not yet available or established. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and cidofovir are promising and may prove useful in the near future.
Universitätsklinik Bonn. j-c.wasmuth@uni-bonn.de
J C
JC
Wasmuth
A
A
Wasmuth-Pietzuch
U
U
Spengler
J K
JK
Rockstroh
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
Die progressive multifokale Leukoenzephalopathie.