"Pardon My Language": The Curious Case of a Bloody Sandwich and the John Cunningham Virus Reactivation in the Era of Immunomodulatory Drugs
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare diagnosis associated with high mortality in different clinical settings. PML has been attributed to the reactivation of the John Cunningham (JC) virus (JCV). JCV typically affects patients with HIV/AIDS, solid organ and hematological malignancies, and those under treatment with immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) like pomalidomide. Currently, there are a limited number of reported cases of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who developed PML reported in the literature, and one case report of a patient with MM diagnosed with PML in association with pomalidomide and daratumumab. Here, we describe a case of PML in a patient with MM status post autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) on maintenance treatment with pomalidomide who presented with cognitive decline and aphasia. In an era of increased access to immunomodulatory therapies, physicians should be able to recognize this potential complication as discontinuation of the medication could be lifesaving.
Source: Cureus
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.72306
Authors: Francis Guerra-Bauman, Jessica E Tseng, Asfandyar Latif, Chloe Cohan, Jason Assalita, Abdul Waheed
Institutions: Creighton University, WellSpan Health, Dignity Health
Language: English
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4403728426