Prognostic Value of JC Virus Load in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy
Open Access
- 1 December 1998
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in The Journal of Infectious Diseases
- Vol. 178 (6) , 1816-1820
- https://doi.org/10.1086/314496
Abstract
JC virus (JCV) load was determined by using quantitative polymerase chain reaction in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 12 patients with AIDS-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and compared with clinical outcome. JCV loads varied widely (3–7 log10 JCV equivalents/mL of CSF) and were apparently not related to absolute CD4 cell counts or CSF and plasma human immunodeficiency virus type 1 loads. A significant correlation was observed between JCV load and survival time (Spearman's rank correlation, −0.83;). Moreover, CSF JCV load decreased and then became undetectable in 1 PML patient receiving cidofovir treatment, and this was associated with clinical improvement. These results show that CSF JCV load may be useful as a prognostic parameter and in monitoring the effectiveness of anti-JCV therapies in PML patients.Keywords
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