Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 2026

Mouse Models of Periventricular Leukomalacia
06:24

Mouse Models of Periventricular Leukomalacia

Published on: May 18, 2010

31.5K

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in pediatric patients: case report and literature review

Hayden Schwenk1, Lynn Ramirez-Avila, Shu-Hsien Sheu

  • 1From the *Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA; †Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; ‡Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Mattel Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, CA; §Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital; ¶Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; ‖Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; **Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA; ††Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|March 18, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare JC virus-induced CNS demyelinating disease. This case details a fatal pediatric AIDS case complicated by immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome after antiretroviral therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare, demyelinating central nervous system (CNS) disease.
  • PML is caused by the JC virus (JCV) and is infrequently reported in children, with fewer than 30 cases documented in both HIV-infected and non-infected pediatric populations.

Observation:

  • A 15-year-old female patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) presented with neurological symptoms including nystagmus, dysarthria, and ataxia.
  • These symptoms were indicative of a demyelinating process affecting the CNS.

Findings:

  • The patient was diagnosed with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in the context of advanced HIV infection.
  • Initiation of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) led to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS).

Implications:

  • This case highlights the rare occurrence and severe presentation of PML in pediatric AIDS.
  • The development of fatal IRIS following cART underscores the complex interplay between JCV infection, immune status, and therapeutic interventions in this population.
  • Further research into managing IRIS in pediatric PML cases is warranted.

More Related Videos

Multifocal Electroretinograms16:49

Multifocal Electroretinograms

Published on: December 4, 2011

18.3K
Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy10:22

Interictal High Frequency Oscillations Detected with Simultaneous Magnetoencephalography and Electroencephalography as Biomarker of Pediatric Epilepsy

Published on: December 6, 2016

22.8K

Related Concept Videos

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...
15
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...
22
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
967
Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology01:22

Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology

Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this...
19
Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction01:19

Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. It is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder and a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.EpidemiologyMS commonly begins between 20 and 40 years of age and is twice as common in women. Its exact cause remains unclear, but genetic susceptibility contributes, with higher risk in first-degree relatives and identical twins. A greater...
20
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
554