title: Treatment options for AIDS patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
abstract: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating viral disease produced by the John Cunningham (JC) virus, which is ubiquitously distributed. Up to 80% of adults seroconvert to JC virus. Classically, PML is a life-threatening AIDS-defining disease of the CNS, usually occurring in severely immunocompromised individuals. Until now, and despite several therapeutic attempts, there is no specific treatment for PML. Soon after the widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy (CART), several studies showed prolonged survival for patients with AIDS-associated PML who were treated with CART. The outcome of PML in patients receiving CART is unpredictable at disease onset. Prognostic markers are needed. The JC virus DNA detection in cerebrospinal fluid by nucleic acid amplification techniques and the CD4+ cell count are the most promising parameters. Higher levels of CD4+ cell counts were independently associated with an improved survival in different clinical observations. A summary of the main current knowledge about AIDS-related PML is presented. The most effective strategy is to optimize CART to completely suppress HIV-1 viral load and allow the best CD4+ T-cell immune recovery. Nowadays, AIDS-related PML is no longer an ultimately fatal disease. A substantial number of HIV-1-infected patients with this condition can improve with CART.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Department of Infectious Diseases, Servicio de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Carretera de Colmenar, Km 9,100, 28034 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dronda
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moreno
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D007577:JC Virus; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents