The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resource
Sign up for free e-mail updates!The Body en Espanol
Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.

Ask the Experts about Opportunistic Infections

 

primary multifocal lesions
Dec 26, 2000

can you explain what primary multifocal lesions are, what is the prognosis, treatment, if any?

Response from Dr. Feinberg

I think you must mean PML -- progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. This is a brain disease caused by the JC virus. There are no proven specific treatments, although some people improve markedly when their immune system gets stronger, as happens when AIDS patients take potent combination treatment for HIV. Some individuals have been reported to respond to interferon and some to cidofovir, a drug approved form CMV retinitis. The name gives you the prognosis: it is progressive, meaning that in the vast majority of patients the disease will continue to worsen and eventually lead to death.



Terms of Use
Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.

Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their messages.

Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.

Copyright notice.