Relation of JC virus DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid to survival in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients with biopsy-proven progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

Constantin T. Yiannoutsos, Eugene O. Major, Blanche Curfman, Peter N. Jensen, Maneth Gravell, Jean Hou, David B. Clifford, Colin D. Hall

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

89 Scopus citations

Abstract

The detection and semiquantitation of JC virus (JCV) DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is prognostic of survival and is a marker of the course of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). CSF samples from 15 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with biopsy-proven PML were analyzed by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A low JCV burden was predictive of longer survival compared with a high JCV burden (median survival from entry, 24 [2-63] vs 7.6 [4-17] weeks). Further analyses indicated a possible threshold of 50 to 100 copies/μl separating high- and moderate-risk cases. Patients with a JCV load below this level survived longer than those with a JCV load above it.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)816-820
Number of pages5
JournalAnnals of neurology
Volume45
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

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