My mom has MS and she is on a new drug that may cause pml. what is pml?

Answer 1

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is a nervous system condition that causes mental deterioration, problems with vision and speech, paralysis, coma and sometimes death. The term “progressive” indicates that the disorder is degenerative and that the patient will progressively worsen. “Multifocal” indicates the multiple locations of the brain the disorder will affect or grow to effect. “Leukoencephalopathy” is a term that tells us that the disorder attacks the white matter of the brain. Specifically, PML is related to a virus called the JC virus. The JC virus infects brain cells called oligodentrocytes which produce a substance called myelin, used to protect the nervous system cells in the brain. When a patient develops PML, the myelin sheath that insulates their brain deteriorates which leads to nervous system malfunction.