Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Expanding Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes from Umbilical Cord Blood that Target Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr Virus, and Adenovirus
11:18

Expanding Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes from Umbilical Cord Blood that Target Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr Virus, and Adenovirus

Published on: May 7, 2012

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy after stem cell transplantation, unsuccessfully treated with cidofovir

S Osorio1, R de la Cámara, N Golbano

  • 1Department of Hematology, Hospital de la Princesa, Madrid, Spain.

Bone Marrow Transplantation
|December 12, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is rarely seen after non-Hodgkin

Area of Science:

  • Neuro-oncology
  • Hematology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a common treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).
  • Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare but serious opportunistic infection.
  • The association between SCT and PML is uncommon, with limited reported cases.

Observation:

  • A patient developed PML following autologous SCT for NHL.
  • This represents an unusual complication, with only seven prior cases documented.
  • The patient was treated with cidofovir, an antiviral medication.

Findings:

  • This is the first reported case of PML post-SCT treated with cidofovir.
  • It is also the fifth case of PML without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection treated with cidofovir.
  • Treatment outcomes with cidofovir in non-HIV PML patients, including this case, have been discouraging.

Implications:

  • The findings highlight a rare but significant complication of SCT for NHL.
  • The limited efficacy of cidofovir in treating PML in this context warrants further investigation.
  • This case contributes to understanding PML management in immunocompromised patients without HIV.

Related Concept Videos

Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Cytomegalovirus Disease01:27

Cytomegalovirus Disease

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...
Hepatic Encephalopathy01:29

Hepatic Encephalopathy

DefinitionHepatic encephalopathy is a reversible neurologic syndrome that results from advanced liver dysfunction or portosystemic shunting. It leads to disturbances in cognition, behavior, and motor function due to the brain’s exposure to gut-derived toxins that the liver fails to detoxify.EtiologyThis condition develops either in the setting of acute fulminant hepatitis or progressively during chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Portosystemic shunting—including...
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment01:22

Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment

Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is pathologically identified by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. AD pharmacotherapy aims to manage cognitive symptoms, delay disease progression, and treat behavioral symptoms. The treatment is primarily symptomatic and palliative, with no definitive disease-modifying therapy available. Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne), are...