Encephalitis (Oct 2021)

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy successfully treated with mefloquine and literature review

  • Sungjoon Yoon,
  • Yongmoo Kim,
  • Seon-Jae Ahn,
  • Kon Chu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.47936/encephalitis.2021.00094
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1, no. 4
pp. 111 – 119

Abstract

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Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is an opportunistic infection due to reactivation of John Cunningham virus (JCV). The diagnosis depends on evidence from clinical, imaging, and virologic studies. When the cerebrospinal fluid shows a negative polymerase chain reaction result, brain biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis. PML has no standard treatment except for immune reconstitution. The anti-JCV effect of mefloquine, however, is supported by some studies, and if brain biopsy is difficult, a mefloquine trial can be considered. We describe a case of possible PML successfully treated with mefloquine.

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