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Successful treatment of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with low-dose interleukin-2

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 20, pages 983–987 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

A patient with low-grade lymphoma presented 8 months after autologous marrow transplantation with dizziness, aphasia and hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an abnormal T2 signal in the frontoparietal region unilaterally. Biopsy of the area demonstrated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy positive for JC virus and p53. Treatment with interleukin-2 at 0.5 MU/m2/day i.v. continuous infusion resulted in near complete resolution of symptoms and MRI abnormalities. The absolute number of CD3+CD4+ and CD3−CD56+ cells in the peripheral blood also increased, and the CD4/CD8 ratio normalized. She remains free of evidence of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy 1 year off therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA

    D Przepiorka

  2. Department of Neurology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA

    KA Jaeckle

  3. Beaumont, TX, USA

    RR Birdwell

  4. Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA

    GN Fuller

  5. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA

    AJ Kumar

  6. Department of Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA

    YO Huh

  7. Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA

    I McCutcheon

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  1. D Przepiorka
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  2. KA Jaeckle
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  3. RR Birdwell
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  4. GN Fuller
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  5. AJ Kumar
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  6. YO Huh
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  7. I McCutcheon
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Przepiorka, D., Jaeckle, K., Birdwell, R. et al. Successful treatment of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy with low-dose interleukin-2. Bone Marrow Transplant 20, 983–987 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1701010

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1701010

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