Successful treatment of aids related PML with HAART and cidofovir

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a progressive demyelinating infection of the central nervous system caused by the JC virus (JCV) in an advanced state of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Currently there are still no drugs with proven clinical efficacy against JCV, though highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the associated partial immune reconstitution have a beneficial effect on the survival time of AIDS-related PML. Various case reports have described an acceptable response under treatment with cidofovir which may be of particular benefit if HAART does not result in sufficient immune reconstitution. We report a patient with AIDS-related PML who improved under combined therapy with HAART and cidofovir. This suggests that the immediate combination of both drugs further improves the outcome of AIDS-related PML.