Cerebrospinal fluid analysis in 108 patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is caused by an opportunistic infection with JC polyoma virus (JCPyV) and mainly affects immunocompromised patients. It leads to pronounced demyelination of the central nervous system (CNS) resulting in severe disability or even death. Detection of JCPyV DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is usually accepted as proof for the diagnosis of PML. Routine CSF parameters, like CSF cell count, protein concentration, Qalbumin, or intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis are mostly considered normal. However, this has not been investigated systematically.

Methods

We analyzed routine CSF parameters in a cohort of 108 PML patients that were treated at four different neurological centers in Germany. The patients exhibited differe

SUBMITTER: Mohn N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7590675 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature