Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy in AIDS Patients: A Report on 15 Cases

Authors: Rayes AA

DOI: 10.23880/jidtm-16000180

Volume 8, Issue 1

Abstract

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by a polyoma virus called JC polyoma virus (JCPyV). It affects patients with some diseases like lymphoproliferative diseases and patients with advanced AIDS usually with a CD4 count of less than 100 cells/L and carries a poor prognosis. Its clinical and radiological features are suggestive but could be similar to other diseases like toxoplasmosis and tuberculosis that can affect the CNS in AIDS patients. Here we report on 15 cases of PML, attended and managed in Tripoli University Hospital in Tripoli, Libya. All of the patients were in advanced stages of HIV infection, and were not using medications at presentation. All the patients except one died within a period of 2 days- 2 months of presentation possibly due to associated opportunistic infections (OI). PML has not been reported in the Libyan medical literature and here we report its clinical and radiological features and the prognosis of its course.

Keywords: HIV; AIDS; Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopthy (PML); Libya

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