ABSTRACT
Despite the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, there has not been a dramatic decrease in the frequency of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in the HIV-infected population. Usually a multifocal progressive disease of nonenhancing lesions in white matter, PML can have distinct characteristics in HIV-infected patients, including unifocal static lesions of faint contrast enhancement on imaging and involvement of gray matter. A syndrome of cerebellar degeneration has been described in association with HIV infection in patients positive for JC virus, the papovavirus responsible for PML. The standard of care for HIV-associated PML is HAART to achieve immunologic recovery and optimal HIV virologic control. The prognosis of PML has improved greatly since the advent of HAART
Footnotes
Dr. Simpson reported consulting relationships with Biogen Idec and Pfizer Inc.
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