Clinical and laboratory features and prognostic factors for outcome of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in HIV-infected patients

Abstract

Objective: To analyze clinical and laboratory features to predict the outcome of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in HIV-infected patients.Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of medical histories of HIV-infected patients with CNS lesions in 2015–2017, and dynamic monitoring of HIV patients with CNS lesions in 2018–2019, who were intensive care unit (ICU) in Infectious Clinical Hospital No. 2 of the Department of Health of Moscow.Results and discussion: A total 196 patients with encephalitis/meningoencephalitis: 124 (63%) patients with detected JCPyV in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — study group (JCPyV+), 72 patients with undetectable JCPyV in CSF — comparison group (JCPyV–). Late terms of hospitalization were noted, mainly in the JCPyV+ group (mean — 58±6 days). The majority of patients had severe immunodeficiency, in the JCPyV+ group the number of patients with CD4<200 cells/μl was significantly higher than in the JCPyV– group (87.8% and 75.8%, p<0.05). Only 22% of patients received antiretroviral therapy (ART) prior to hospitalization. The main clinical manifestations of PML in the study were: paralysis and paresis of the limbs, speech impairment, cognitive disorders in combination with cerebral symptoms in the absence of meningeal signs. In 87.8% patients with positive JCPyV DNA no other pathogens were detected in the CSF; in the patients without PML the detection of infectious agents in the CSF was also rare (14.3%). The disease led to the death for 78% patients in the JCPyV+ group and 72% JCPyV– group, p>0.05. The chance of survival was 2.5 times higher for patients admitted to hospital less than 14 days after deterioration (OR=2.468 [95% CI: 1.244–4.898]). Patients with CD4<200 cells/μL were 5.5 times more chance to die than patients with higher CD4 rates (OR=5.449 [95% CI: 2.388–12.431]). There was no relationship between the concentration of JCPyV DNA and HIV RNA in the CSF and their impact for the disease outcome.Conclusion: Survival prognosis for PML during treatment in ICU was worser for patients hospitalized after 14 days from the onset of symptoms and with CD4<200 cells/μL. Early ART initiation for all HIV-positive individuals significantly reduces the number of opportunistic infections and improve life expectancy.