title: Atypical progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a patient with antisynthetase syndrome.
abstract: Antisynthetase syndrome is a disorder belonging to the dermatomyositis/polymyositis group, with high rates of morbidity and mortality. We herein present the case of a 71-year-old man who was diagnosed with antisynthetase syndrome and treated with rituximab. Almost three years later, the patient showed right-sided hemiparesis that ultimately progressed to complete hemiplegia and advancing cognitive deterioration with a poor clinical outcome. The neuropathological diagnosis was progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Treatment with rituximab for antisynthetase syndrome itself plays a fundamental role in the development of infectious complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Unit of Infectious Diseases. IBSAL. University Hospital of Salamanca. CIETUS, University of Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Moncef
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belhassen-Garcia
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rábano-Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Velasco-Tirado
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romero-Alegria
authors.forename: Maria-Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pérez-Garcia
authors.forename: Jose Angel
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Martin-Oterino
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007968:Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009220:Myositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab