What is progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy?
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is very unusual diseases that affect people who have AIDS or other conditions that weaken their immune systems. The disease is triggered by the JC virus, a widespread, weak pathogen, located in so much 85 percent of the population. A person who suffers from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is likely to experience a number of neurological problems, including coordination problems, speech problems and vision loss. The condition is life -threatening, but immediate detection and treatment with antiviral drugs can provide the best possible chances of survival.
The JC virus is usually not a consensus for a healthy immune system. It can be picked up in several different ways and once a person has a virus, it tends to simply lie in the body. The JC virus only becomes active when the immune system is seriously endangered as it can occur after aggressive cancer treatment or AIDS.
brain and spinal cord lined with insulating material called myelin. Progressive multifocal leukoeNcephalopathy destroys myelin, resulting in a lesion in the brain that disrupts electrical signaling. Depending on the size, number and location of lesions, a person may have headaches, nausea, blurred vision, indecent speech or problems with the movement of the engine. In addition, some people suffer from memory loss and inability to concentrate. As the condition deteriorates, the individual can paralyze and enter the comatose state.
When a patient shows signs of neurological problems, it is usually planned for a large number of diagnostic tests. Magnetic resonance imaging and computer scanning reveal brain lesions and blood tests can show that the JC virus has been reactivated. Once the diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy has been confirmed, experts may begin to consider treatment options.
There are no set strategies for the treatment of progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathyalthough doctors generally test the course of antiviral substances. Patients who have AIDS may have to have medicines modified to be directly focused on the JC virus. The drugs used to treat the condition often cause negative side effects and the patient is usually limited to the hospital bed during treatment so that doctors can constantly monitor symptoms.
Therecovery time and long -term forecasts differ for each patient. Because the condition is so rare, there is not enough data to prove that current treatment is completely useful. Some people begin to feel better in one month, while others continue to lose cognitive abilities and eventually die within one year.