HIV-associated PML: changing epidemiology and clinical approach

Despite the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, there has not been a dramatic decrease in the frequency of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in the HIV-infected population. Usually a multifocal progressive disease of nonenhancing lesions in white matter, PML can have distinct characteristics in HIV-infected patients, including unifocal static lesions of faint contrast enhancement on imaging and involvement of gray matter. A syndrome of cerebellar degeneration has been described in association with HIV infection in patients positive for JC virus, the papovavirus responsible for PML. The standard of care for HIV-associated PML is HAART to achieve immunologic recovery and optimal HIV virologic control. The prognosis of PML has improved greatly since the advent of HAART.