Observational Study on Characteristics and Survival Correlates of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) in Italy

This is a retrospective observational study that investigates the features and the correlates of survival of patients with Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML). The study is based on demographic, clinical and laboratory data stored in an Institutional database

PML is a rare and rapidly progressive demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), caused by the JC polyomavirus (JCV) that occurs in persons with a primary or acquired immune dysfunction. Common diseases or conditions associated with PML include certain hematological tumors (e.g., some lymphomas), Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) infection, other congenital or acquired forms of immune deficiency, or in people receiving immunosuppressive or immunomodulant treatments, such as Natalizumab in persons with Multiple Sclerosis.

There is no specific effective treatment for PML, and reversion of the underlying immune dysfunction is the only feasible approach to halt disease progression. The overall reported mortality is higher than 50% and most of the persons who survive PML are left with severe neurological sequelae

Being PML a rare disease, knowing the context and the risk factors in which it develops, e.g., specific underlying diseases or treatments and their role in the different time periods, will be key for an early diagnosis of PML, which is usually associated with better outcome. In addition, the identification of variables associated with different disease outcomes will be important in terms of disease management and for the design of experimental therapeutic interventions.

The retrospective assessment of the PML cohort describes and analyzes clinical and laboratory data from 456 PML patients observed in the period 1987-2024. This is one of the largest cohorts and the with the longest observational window ever reported, reflecting an evolving epidemiological context. In addition, differently from previous cohort studies, it analyzes in detail clinical, radiological, and virological variables, providing additional information on the epidemiological changes and determinants of survival.

The cohort includes Italian PML patients who were followed at or referred to the Infectious Diseases Unit of San Raffaele Hospital in Milano, Italy from other Italian clinical centers, between January 1st 1987 and April 30th 2024. Data have been collected in a custom-made database, which is kept updated with follow-up data of cases already included and with inclusion of new cases. We have collected the demographic characteristics and the clinical, radiological and laboratory variables at first observation and at the time of diagnosis and at all the subsequent evaluations until death or up to three years in patients who survive.

More in detail, the following variables have been evaluated for the purpose of this study at the time of PML diagnosis: age, birth sex, year of diagnosis of PML, underlying PML disease, neurological deficits (classified as by presence of motor, cognitive, cerebellar, visual, verbal or cranial nerves problems, headache, seizures or others), presence of contrast enhancement at brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), treatment with immunosuppressive or immunomodulant treatments or, in cases with HIV infection, treatment with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), experimental treatments for PML, JCV-DNA levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma, with distance in days from the data of diagnosis of PML, CD4 T-cell count.

For assessment of survival we considered either patients' with a date of death or with severe progression at the last observation (i.e., severe deterioration of body functions that would lead to death in a short time span) within the first year from disease onset.

MRI images were qualitatively acquired through either 1.5T or 3T equipments, based on the use of standard protocols that evolved over time. Initial protocols included at least basal axial, sagittal and coronal basal spin echo T1 and proton-density (DP)-T2-weighted sequences, with post-gadolinium T1-weighted sequences. Over time, Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) and Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) sequences were added to most of the protocols. Images were initially acquired on 2D 5 mm-thick sections, and, during most recent periods, by volumetric sequences, such as 3D-FLAIR, which enable standard 5mm-thick section reconstruction.

Quantitative analysis of JCV-DNA in CSF and plasma was performed in the first sample available since the time of diagnosis, by a real-time PCR developed in our laboratory, with a lower detection limit of 100 copies/mL.

Peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocytes counts were determined by flow cytometry, whereas HIV-RNA was measured in plasma by commercially available assays with a detection limit of 50 copies/mL.