Is PML always fatal?

Some people may experience headaches or epilepsy, although these symptoms are rare. Eventually, PML usually progresses. The condition is often fatal, but the outlook varies according to the underlying condition and response to treatment.

Has anyone ever survived PML?

Forty patients survived more than 1 year after PML symptom onset, of whom 24 were HIV infected (60%). Thirteen patients survived more than 10 years after PML symptom onset, all HIV infected, of the 59 patients diagnosed before June 1, 2009, and eligible for 10-year survivor status (22%).

How long can a person live with PML?

People diagnosed with PML lived an average of 6 months, and most died within 2 years. However, if people with PML start taking strong antiretroviral medications (ARVs) to control their HIV, they can survive much longer. Now more than half of people with HIV and PML survive for at least two years.

Can you recover from PML?

There is no cure for PML but one-year survival has increased from 10% to 50% in HIV-infected individuals treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

What is the mortality rate after PML diagnosis?

In general, PML has a mortality rate of 30-50 percent in the first few months following diagnosis but depends on the severity of the underlying disease and treatment received. Those who survive PML can be left with severe neurological disabilities. What research is being done?

Is the disease course of PML always progressive?

The disease course of PML used to be considered invariably progressive, with most non-HIV-related cases leading to a fatal outcome within months after the diagnosis. However, it is now known that there are a small number of HIV-positive patients who, having developed PML, will experience disease stabilization and prolonged survival. (2)

Who is most at risk for getting PML?

People with a weakened immune system or people taking drugs that suppress their immune system (immunosuppressants) are most likely to get PML. Tysabri is an immunosuppressant medication.

What kind of disease is progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy ( PML )?

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare and often fatal viral disease characterized by progressive damage (-pathy) or inflammation of the white matter (leuko-) of the brain (-encephalo-) at multiple locations (multifocal). It is caused by the JC virus, which is normally present and kept under control by the immune system.