Fatal progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a patient with non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with rituximab. 2010

Jakob Paues, and Magnus Vrethem
Division for Infectious Diseases, Department for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, 581 85 Linköping, Sweden. jakob.paues@liu.se

We report a case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in a woman with non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with chemotherapy in combination with rituximab. She presented with rapid deterioration of vision and subsequently cognitive decline. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain raised the suspicion of PML. The first PCR analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was negative, but a second sample was positive for JC virus DNA. Anti-viral treatment was ineffective and the patient died 7 months after debut of symptoms. Our case emphasizes the importance of the awareness of PML in patients with progressive neurological symptoms treated with antilymphocytic drugs and that consecutive CSF analyses may be needed to detect the JC virus.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007155 Immunologic Factors Biologically active substances whose activities affect or play a role in the functioning of the immune system. Biological Response Modifier,Biomodulator,Immune Factor,Immunological Factor,Immunomodulator,Immunomodulators,Biological Response Modifiers,Biomodulators,Factors, Immunologic,Immune Factors,Immunological Factors,Modifiers, Biological Response,Response Modifiers, Biological,Factor, Immune,Factor, Immunological,Factors, Immune,Factors, Immunological,Modifier, Biological Response,Response Modifier, Biological
D007577 JC Virus A species of POLYOMAVIRUS, originally isolated from the brain of a patient with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. The patient's initials J.C. gave the virus its name. Infection is not accompanied by any apparent illness but serious demyelinating disease can appear later, probably following reactivation of latent virus. Human Polyomavirus JC,JC polyomavirus,Polyomavirus, JC,John Cunningham Virus,Polyomavirus hominis 2,Polyomavirus JC, Human,Virus, John Cunningham
D007968 Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal An opportunistic viral infection of the central nervous system associated with conditions that impair cell-mediated immunity (e.g., ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME and other IMMUNOLOGIC DEFICIENCY SYNDROMES; HEMATOLOGIC NEOPLASMS; IMMUNOSUPPRESSION; and COLLAGEN DISEASES). The causative organism is JC Polyomavirus (JC VIRUS) which primarily affects oligodendrocytes, resulting in multiple areas of demyelination. Clinical manifestations include DEMENTIA; ATAXIA; visual disturbances; and other focal neurologic deficits, generally progressing to a vegetative state within 6 months. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1996, Ch26, pp36-7) Encephalitis, JC Polyomavirus,Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy,JC Polyomavirus Encephalopathy,Encephalopathies, JC Polyomavirus,Encephalopathy, JC Polyomavirus,JC Polyomavirus Encephalitis,Leukoencephalopathies, Progressive Multifocal,Multifocal Leukoencephalopathies, Progressive,Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive,Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathies
D008228 Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Any of a group of malignant tumors of lymphoid tissue that differ from HODGKIN DISEASE, being more heterogeneous with respect to malignant cell lineage, clinical course, prognosis, and therapy. The only common feature among these tumors is the absence of giant REED-STERNBERG CELLS, a characteristic of Hodgkin's disease. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma,Diffuse Mixed Small and Large Cell Lymphoma,Diffuse Mixed-Cell Lymphoma,Diffuse Small Cleaved-Cell Lymphoma,Diffuse Undifferentiated Lymphoma,Lymphatic Sarcoma,Lymphoma, Atypical Diffuse Small Lymphoid,Lymphoma, Diffuse,Lymphoma, Diffuse, Mixed Lymphocytic-Histiocytic,Lymphoma, High-Grade,Lymphoma, Intermediate-Grade,Lymphoma, Low-Grade,Lymphoma, Mixed,Lymphoma, Mixed Cell, Diffuse,Lymphoma, Mixed Lymphocytic-Histiocytic,Lymphoma, Mixed Small and Large Cell, Diffuse,Lymphoma, Mixed-Cell,Lymphoma, Mixed-Cell, Diffuse,Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin's,Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin, Familial,Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkins,Lymphoma, Nonhodgkin's,Lymphoma, Nonhodgkins,Lymphoma, Pleomorphic,Lymphoma, Small Cleaved Cell, Diffuse,Lymphoma, Small Cleaved-Cell, Diffuse,Lymphoma, Small Non-Cleaved-Cell,Lymphoma, Small Noncleaved-Cell,Lymphoma, Small and Large Cleaved-Cell, Diffuse,Lymphoma, Undifferentiated,Lymphoma, Undifferentiated, Diffuse,Lymphosarcoma,Mixed Small and Large Cell Lymphoma, Diffuse,Mixed-Cell Lymphoma,Mixed-Cell Lymphoma, Diffuse,Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma,Reticulosarcoma,Reticulum Cell Sarcoma,Reticulum-Cell Sarcoma,Sarcoma, Lymphatic,Sarcoma, Reticulum-Cell,Small Cleaved-Cell Lymphoma, Diffuse,Small Non-Cleaved-Cell Lymphoma,Small Noncleaved-Cell Lymphoma,Undifferentiated Lymphoma,Diffuse Lymphoma,Diffuse Lymphomas,Diffuse Mixed Cell Lymphoma,Diffuse Mixed-Cell Lymphomas,Diffuse Small Cleaved Cell Lymphoma,Diffuse Undifferentiated Lymphomas,High-Grade Lymphoma,High-Grade Lymphomas,Intermediate-Grade Lymphoma,Intermediate-Grade Lymphomas,Low-Grade Lymphoma,Low-Grade Lymphomas,Lymphatic Sarcomas,Lymphocytic-Histiocytic Lymphoma, Mixed,Lymphocytic-Histiocytic Lymphomas, Mixed,Lymphoma, Diffuse Mixed-Cell,Lymphoma, Diffuse Undifferentiated,Lymphoma, High Grade,Lymphoma, Intermediate Grade,Lymphoma, Low Grade,Lymphoma, Mixed Cell,Lymphoma, Mixed Lymphocytic Histiocytic,Lymphoma, Non Hodgkin,Lymphoma, Non Hodgkin's,Lymphoma, Non Hodgkins,Lymphoma, Nonhodgkin,Lymphoma, Small Non Cleaved Cell,Lymphoma, Small Noncleaved Cell,Lymphosarcomas,Mixed Cell Lymphoma,Mixed Cell Lymphoma, Diffuse,Mixed Lymphocytic-Histiocytic Lymphoma,Mixed Lymphocytic-Histiocytic Lymphomas,Mixed Lymphoma,Mixed Lymphomas,Mixed-Cell Lymphomas,Non Hodgkin Lymphoma,Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma,Non-Cleaved-Cell Lymphoma, Small,Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma,Noncleaved-Cell Lymphoma, Small,Nonhodgkin's Lymphoma,Nonhodgkins Lymphoma,Pleomorphic Lymphoma,Pleomorphic Lymphomas,Reticulosarcomas,Reticulum Cell Sarcomas,Reticulum-Cell Sarcomas,Sarcoma, Reticulum Cell,Small Cleaved Cell Lymphoma, Diffuse,Small Non Cleaved Cell Lymphoma,Small Non-Cleaved-Cell Lymphomas,Small Noncleaved Cell Lymphoma,Small Noncleaved-Cell Lymphomas,Undifferentiated Lymphoma, Diffuse,Undifferentiated Lymphomas
D008279 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Non-invasive method of demonstrating internal anatomy based on the principle that atomic nuclei in a strong magnetic field absorb pulses of radiofrequency energy and emit them as radiowaves which can be reconstructed into computerized images. The concept includes proton spin tomographic techniques. Chemical Shift Imaging,MR Tomography,MRI Scans,MRI, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Image,Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Functional,Magnetization Transfer Contrast Imaging,NMR Imaging,NMR Tomography,Tomography, NMR,Tomography, Proton Spin,fMRI,Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging,Imaging, Chemical Shift,Proton Spin Tomography,Spin Echo Imaging,Steady-State Free Precession MRI,Tomography, MR,Zeugmatography,Chemical Shift Imagings,Echo Imaging, Spin,Echo Imagings, Spin,Functional MRI,Functional MRIs,Image, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, Magnetic Resonance,Imaging, NMR,Imaging, Spin Echo,Imagings, Chemical Shift,Imagings, Spin Echo,MRI Scan,MRIs, Functional,Magnetic Resonance Images,Resonance Image, Magnetic,Scan, MRI,Scans, MRI,Shift Imaging, Chemical,Shift Imagings, Chemical,Spin Echo Imagings,Steady State Free Precession MRI
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011859 Radiography Examination of any part of the body for diagnostic purposes by means of X-RAYS or GAMMA RAYS, recording the image on a sensitized surface (such as photographic film). Radiology, Diagnostic X-Ray,Roentgenography,X-Ray, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X-Ray,Diagnostic X-Ray Radiology,X-Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X Ray,Diagnostic X Ray Radiology,Diagnostic X-Rays,Radiology, Diagnostic X Ray,X Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,X Ray, Diagnostic,X-Rays, Diagnostic
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D002555 Cerebrospinal Fluid A watery fluid that is continuously produced in the CHOROID PLEXUS and circulates around the surface of the BRAIN; SPINAL CORD; and in the CEREBRAL VENTRICLES. Cerebro Spinal Fluid,Cerebro Spinal Fluids,Cerebrospinal Fluids,Fluid, Cerebro Spinal,Fluid, Cerebrospinal,Fluids, Cerebro Spinal,Fluids, Cerebrospinal,Spinal Fluid, Cerebro,Spinal Fluids, Cerebro
D004279 DNA, Viral Deoxyribonucleic acid that makes up the genetic material of viruses. Viral DNA

Related Publications

Jakob Paues, and Magnus Vrethem
February 2008, Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology,
Jakob Paues, and Magnus Vrethem
December 2010, [Rinsho ketsueki] The Japanese journal of clinical hematology,
Jakob Paues, and Magnus Vrethem
September 2017, Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia,
Jakob Paues, and Magnus Vrethem
June 2011, European journal of internal medicine,
Copied contents to your clipboard!