Open AccessJC Virus leuko-encephalopathy in reduced intensity conditioning cord blood transplant recipient.
Author(s) -
Jean El-Cheikh,
Sabine Fürst,
F. Casalonga,
Roberto Crocchiolo,
Luca Castagna,
Angéla Granata,
Claire Oudin,
Catherine Faucher,
Pierre Berger,
Anthony Sarran,
Didier Blaise
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
mediterranean journal of hematology and infectious diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.682
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 2035-3006
DOI - 10.4084/mjhid.2012.043
Subject(s) - jc virus , medicine , brain biopsy , progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy , cerebrospinal fluid , pathology , umbilical cord blood transplantation , white matter , lumbar puncture , encephalitis , magnetic resonance imaging , biopsy , virus , radiology , virology , disease , hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
We report here the case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) related to human polyomavirus JC (JCV) infection after an allogeneic transplantation with umbilical cord blood cells in 59-year-old woman with follicular Non Hodgkin lymphoma. She presented with dysphagia and weakness; magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated marked signal abnormality in the sub-cortical white matter of the left frontal lobe and in the posterior limb of the right internal capsule. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was positive for John Cunningham (JC) virus. JC viral DNA in the CSF was positive, establishing the diagnosis of PML. Brain biopsy was not done. Extensive investigations for other viral infections seen in immuno-compromised patients were negative. The patient’s neurologic deficits rapidly increased throughout her hospital stay, and she died one month after the diagnosis. These findings could have practical implications and demonstrate that in patients presenting neurological symptoms and radiological signs after UCBT, the JCV encephalitis must be early suspected.