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Progressive multi-focal leukoencephalopathy as a rare lethal complication in untreated sarcoidosis


Hohlfeld, Sabine K; Günthard, Huldrych F; Zeitz, Jonas; Locher, Pascal; Bachli, Esther (2012). Progressive multi-focal leukoencephalopathy as a rare lethal complication in untreated sarcoidosis. BMJ Case Reports, 2012:online.

Abstract

Progressive multi-focal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by reactivation of John Cunningham virus. It is an opportunistic infection affecting patients who are severely immunocompromised due to an underlying disease or secondary to immunosuppressive therapy. To date, no effective antiviral therapy has been established, though several substances are being investigated. The authors present the case of a 39-year-old previously healthy patient who was diagnosed with PML and sarcoidosis stage III without having received prior immunosuppressive treatment. The patient did not respond to treatment with mirtazapine, which has been used empirically, and deceased shortly after diagnosis.

Abstract

Progressive multi-focal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by reactivation of John Cunningham virus. It is an opportunistic infection affecting patients who are severely immunocompromised due to an underlying disease or secondary to immunosuppressive therapy. To date, no effective antiviral therapy has been established, though several substances are being investigated. The authors present the case of a 39-year-old previously healthy patient who was diagnosed with PML and sarcoidosis stage III without having received prior immunosuppressive treatment. The patient did not respond to treatment with mirtazapine, which has been used empirically, and deceased shortly after diagnosis.

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Additional indexing

Item Type:Journal Article, refereed, original work
Communities & Collections:04 Faculty of Medicine > University Hospital Zurich > Clinic for Infectious Diseases
Dewey Decimal Classification:610 Medicine & health
Scopus Subject Areas:Health Sciences > General Medicine
Language:English
Date:2012
Deposited On:14 Dec 2012 10:19
Last Modified:25 Oct 2023 07:00
Publisher:BMJ Publishing Group
ISSN:1757-790X
OA Status:Closed
Publisher DOI:https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr.03.2011.4036
PubMed ID:22744245
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