Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy

Elena Grebenciucova1, Joseph R Berger2

  • 1Multiple Sclerosis Division, Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 675 St. Clair, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.

Neurologic Clinics
|October 28, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare brain infection caused by the John Cunningham virus in immunocompromised patients. This review covers PML risks with immunotherapies and strategies for mitigation and monitoring.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare, opportunistic infection affecting the brain.
  • It is caused by the John Cunningham virus (JCV), which is latent in most adults.
  • PML occurs in individuals with compromised immune systems due to illness or immunosuppressive medications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review PML in the context of common immunotherapies.
  • To discuss strategies for mitigating and monitoring PML risk.
  • To provide an overview of PML associated with modern immunosuppressive treatments.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of PML cases associated with immunotherapies.
  • Analysis of risk factors and clinical presentations of PML.
  • Examination of current monitoring and management guidelines.

Main Results:

  • PML is an emerging concern with certain immunotherapies.
  • Risk stratification and early detection are crucial for patient outcomes.
  • Specific monitoring protocols can help identify at-risk patients.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding PML risks with immunotherapies is essential for clinicians.
  • Proactive monitoring and risk mitigation strategies are key to managing PML.
  • Further research is needed to refine PML prevention and treatment in immunocompromised patients.

Related Concept Videos

Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
7.4K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
4.8K
The Nucleolus02:55

The Nucleolus

The nucleolus is the most prominent substructure of the nucleus. When it was first discovered, it was considered to be an isolated organelle that forms fibrils and granules. In 1931, the relationship between the nucleolus and chromosomes was first described by Heitz. He observed that the appearance and size of nucleolus varies depending on the stage of the cell cycle. He also noticed constricted regions on different chromosomes clustered together at definite cell cycle stages. These regions,...
10.4K
Reaction Rate02:53

Reaction Rate

The rate of reaction is the change in the amount of a reactant or product per unit time. Reaction rates are therefore determined by measuring the time dependence of some property that can be related to reactant or product amounts. Rates of reactions that consume or produce gaseous substances, for example, are conveniently determined by measuring changes in volume or pressure.
The mathematical representation of the change in the concentration of reactants and products, over time, is the rate...
63.3K
Voltaic/Galvanic Cells02:47

Voltaic/Galvanic Cells

Spontaneous Chemical Reactions
Spontaneous redox reactions occur abundantly in nature. The chemical reaction occurring in a disposable AA battery powering our remote controls is one such example of a spontaneous redox reaction. Another example is the immersion of coiled copper wire into an aqueous silver nitrate solution. The reaction shows a gradual, visually impressive color change from colorless to bright blue and the formation of a grey precipitate on the copper wire. In this experiment,...
63.5K
Measuring Reaction Rates03:09

Measuring Reaction Rates

Polarimetry finds application in chemical kinetics to measure the concentration and reaction kinetics of optically active substances during a chemical reaction. Optically active substances have the capability of rotating the plane of polarization of linearly polarized light passing through them—a feature called optical rotation. Optical activity is attributed to the molecular structure of substances. Normal monochromatic light is unpolarized and possesses oscillations of the electrical...
29.3K