Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a 62-year-old immunocompetent woman

Authors

Venkata C. Gourineni, Department of Internal Medicine, Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Health, 267 Grant Street, Bridgeport, CT 06610, USA.
Tristan Juvet, Department of Internal Medicine, Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Health, 267 Grant Street, Bridgeport, CT 06610, USA.
Yogesh Kumar, Department of Radiology, Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Health, 267 Grant Street, Bridgeport, CT 06610, USA.
Doru Bordea, Department of Internal Medicine, Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Health, 267 Grant Street, Bridgeport, CT 06610, USA.
Kanaga N. Sena, Department of Internal Medicine, Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Health, 267 Grant Street, Bridgeport, CT 06610, USA.

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Case reports in neurological medicine

Abstract

Progressive multifocal encephalopathy (PML) is a rare demyelinating disease that typically presents in immunodeficient patients. We report a case of a previously healthy 62-Year-Old woman who suffered from an unsteady gait, throbbing headaches, and progressive left-sided weakness and numbness. Stroke was initially suspected based on imaging and symptoms. A series of follow-up magnetic resonance images of the brain showed a right parietal lesion growing in size as the patient became unable to walk and experienced increasing lethargy and confusion. A biopsy of the lesion was positive for the John Cunningham virus (JCV). A diagnosis of PML was made and she was started on mefloquine. No improvement was seen on this treatment and her condition worsened. Although PML remains uncommon in immunocompetent individuals, it cannot be ruled out based on their immune status. Although the exact cause remains uncertain, underlying or transient states of immunosuppression may be responsible for reactivation of the JCV in these patients.

First Page

549271

DOI

10.1155/2014/549271

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Recommended Citation

Gourineni, Venkata C.; Juvet, Tristan; Kumar, Yogesh; Bordea, Doru; and Sena, Kanaga N., "Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a 62-year-old immunocompetent woman" (2014). All Research. 306.
https://scholar.bridgeporthospital.org/all_research/306

Identifier

24711940 (pubmed); PMC3965952 (pmc); 10.1155/2014/549271 (doi)