Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a lung transplant recipient presenting with memory impairment: Case report and literature review.
JC virus
demyelination
immunosuppression
lung transplantation
progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
Journal
Transplant infectious disease : an official journal of the Transplantation Society
ISSN: 1399-3062
Titre abrégé: Transpl Infect Dis
Pays: Denmark
ID NLM: 100883688
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jun 2020
Jun 2020
Historique:
received:
04
03
2020
accepted:
31
03
2020
pubmed:
16
4
2020
medline:
4
2
2021
entrez:
16
4
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by JC virus (JCV). The disease occurs in the setting of significant immunocompromise and has now been reported in many different settings, although only very rarely after lung transplantation. The mortality rate is high and therapeutic options are limited. We report a case of a 66-year-old man who presented with non-specific memory disturbance at 19 months after lung transplantation for chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. He had required methylprednisolone for acute allograft rejection but achieved good graft function. Physical examination was unremarkable. CT revealed hypodensity in the left frontal lobe. MR demonstrated significant hyperintense white-matter abnormalities on T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences, mainly focused on the periventricular region adjacent the frontal horn of the left lateral ventricle. Brain biopsy confirmed PML. The patient had his immunosuppression reduced but then developed antibody-mediated rejection four months later. Despite re-escalation of immunosuppression, he remains neurologically stable on mirtazapine at eight months post-diagnosis. This very rare case highlights the challenges presented by PML, especially in the lung transplant population. It reveals the difficult balance between reducing immunosuppression to protect the brain versus prevention of lung allograft rejection. It clearly highlights the need for improved therapeutic modalities.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by JC virus (JCV). The disease occurs in the setting of significant immunocompromise and has now been reported in many different settings, although only very rarely after lung transplantation. The mortality rate is high and therapeutic options are limited.
CASE PRESENTATION
METHODS
We report a case of a 66-year-old man who presented with non-specific memory disturbance at 19 months after lung transplantation for chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis. He had required methylprednisolone for acute allograft rejection but achieved good graft function. Physical examination was unremarkable. CT revealed hypodensity in the left frontal lobe. MR demonstrated significant hyperintense white-matter abnormalities on T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences, mainly focused on the periventricular region adjacent the frontal horn of the left lateral ventricle. Brain biopsy confirmed PML. The patient had his immunosuppression reduced but then developed antibody-mediated rejection four months later. Despite re-escalation of immunosuppression, he remains neurologically stable on mirtazapine at eight months post-diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
This very rare case highlights the challenges presented by PML, especially in the lung transplant population. It reveals the difficult balance between reducing immunosuppression to protect the brain versus prevention of lung allograft rejection. It clearly highlights the need for improved therapeutic modalities.
Types de publication
Case Reports
Journal Article
Review
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
e13293Informations de copyright
© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Références
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