Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy

Dr. Joseph R. Berger, chair of the Department of Neurology at the University of Kentucky, studies neurological disorders such as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. PML, a rare viral disease, can affect those individuals with compromised immune systems. Dr. Berger provides an overview of pathobiology, clinical manifestations and immunological perturbations.

Category:

Education

[nikipudder69]

just found out my brother in law has this ,,,, what happens next....

[Allibaby78]

Treatment

In people with AIDS, treatment to strengthen the immune system can lead to recovery from the symptoms of PML. No other treatments have proved effective for PML.

Expectations (prognosis)

PML is a life-threatening condition. Talk to your doctor about care decisions.

[Allibaby78]

Signs and tests

Tests may include:

Brain biopsy (rare)

Cerebrospinal fluid test for the JCV

CT scan of the brain

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

MRI of the brain

[Allibaby78]

Symptoms

Headaches

Loss of coordination, clumsiness

Loss of language ability (aphasia)

Memory loss

Vision problems

Weakness of the legs and arms that gets worse

[Allibaby78]

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The JC virus (JCV) causes PML. By age 10, most people have been infected with this virus, but it hardly ever causes symptoms.

Anyone with a weakened immune system, however, are at greater risk of developing PML. Causes of a weakened immune system include:

AIDS (less common now because of better AIDS treatments)

Certain medications used to treat multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and related conditions

Leukemia and lymphoma

[Allibaby78]

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare disorder that damages the material (myelin) that covers and protects nerves in the white matter of the brain.

[dudeness176]

My grandma has this :c

[PMLdisease]

See my video of my personal experience of this disease and where to fund it if you like through NORD.

Please help if you can.