Virology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Virology, including details on viruses, pathology, classification, definitions.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a haploidentical stem cell transplant recipient: a clinical, neuroradiological and virological response after treatment with risperidone.

Focosi D, Fazzi R, Montanaro D, Emdin M, Petrini M

Division of Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Santa Chiara, via Roma 56, 56100 Pisa, Italy. focosi@icgeb.org

JC virus (JCV) is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to family Polyomaviridae. It causes progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), mainly in immunosuppressed people. JCV had been shown to require the serotonin 2A receptor for host cell entry. We report a case of clinical, neuroradiological and virological response of biopsy-proven PML in a 33-year-old comatose woman after treatment with the anti-psychotic drug risperidone. Since risperidone is the tightest binding of current drugs to this receptor we think this may have blocked JCV entry in our patient, allowing her immune recovery and viral clearance.

Published 26 March 2007 in Antiviral Res, 74(2): 156-8.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Virology Research Today. All Rights Reserved.