Thiazolidinediones could be an effective treatment for HIV-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

摘要

HIV-associated progressive multi-focal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder that leads to disability and death from fulminant damage to cerebral white matter. PML is caused by human polyoma JC virus, an almost ubiquitous virus normally kept in check by the immune system.1 PML had been common prior to the advent of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), and now some cases are being seen in the context of HAART failure2 and also immune reconstitution syndrome, where a patient's HAART-restored immune system attacks brain tissue.