Diseases

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy

An opportunistic viral infection of the central nervous system associated with conditions that impair cell-mediated immunity (e.g., ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME and other IMMUNOLOGIC DEFICIENCY SYNDROMES; HEMATOLOGIC NEOPLASMS; IMMUNOSUPPRESSION; and COLLAGEN DISEASES). The causative organism is JC Polyomavirus (JC VIRUS) which primarily affects oligodendrocytes, resulting in multiple areas of demyelination. Clinical manifestations include DEMENTIA; ATAXIA; visual disturbances; and other focal neurologic deficits, generally progressing to a vegetative state within 6 months. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1996, Ch26, pp36-7)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

An opportunistic viral infection of the central nervous system associated with conditions that impair cell-mediated immunity (e.g., ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME and other IMMUNOLOGIC DEFICIENCY SYNDROMES; HEMATOLOGIC NEOPLASMS; IMMUNOSUPPRESSION; and COLLAGEN DISEASES). The causative organism is JC Polyomavirus (JC VIRUS) which primarily affects oligodendrocytes, resulting in multiple areas of demyelination. Clinical manifestations include DEMENTIA; ATAXIA; visual disturbances; and other focal neurologic deficits, generally progressing to a vegetative state within 6 months. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1996, Ch26, pp36-7)

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

10 entry terms
  • Encephalitis, JC Polyomavirus
  • JC Polyomavirus Encephalopathy
  • Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive Multifocal
  • Encephalopathies, JC Polyomavirus
  • Encephalopathy, JC Polyomavirus
  • JC Polyomavirus Encephalitis
  • Leukoencephalopathies, Progressive Multifocal
  • Multifocal Leukoencephalopathies, Progressive
  • Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy, Progressive
  • Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathies

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

36 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, transmission, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

1973(1971)

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Demyelinating Diseases (1966-1970)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. C01w.207w.245w.340w.500w
  2. C01w.207w.399.750w.500w
  3. C01w.925w.182w.525w.500w
  4. C01w.925w.256.721.500w
  5. C01w.925w.839w.550w
  6. C10w.228w.140w.430w.520.750w.500w
  7. C10w.228w.140w.695w.750w
  8. C10w.228w.228w.245w.340w.500w
  9. C10w.228w.228w.399.750w.500w
  10. C10w.314w.450w
  11. C10w.586.250w.520.750w.500w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D007968. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D007968
  2. Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_multifocal_leukoencephalopathy
  3. Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q704930