[Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a patient with prolonged survival: a case report].

BACKGROUND

The progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a disease histological anatomy characterized by the presence of multifocal areas of demyelization spread out over the central nervous system.The PML is caused by the polyomavirus, a papovavirus.

CLINICAL CASE: A female patient with 27 years aged began with malaise, musculosqueletal pain, paresthetic, hyperthermia and diaphoresis; 72 hours later she presented quadriplegic with neurological damage that progressed to stupor and generalized clonic-tonic seizures. The spinal fluid showed no infection signs. The simple and contrasted computed tomography (CT) was normal. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from encephalon reported lesion in white substance in hemispheres, callosal corpus, cerebellum and tallus. Angioresonance showed an increased number of hyperdense areas in the white substance. Final pathological diagnosis was: progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. There was no confirmation of immunological disease after the exhaustive studies realized. The patient's survival was two years after the diagnosis was made.