Trial Information

Influence of Host Genetic Factors in Development of PML in an AIDS Cohort

The purpose of this study is to identify host genetic factors that contribute to the
development of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) associated with JC virus.
JC virus is one of many opportunistic infections that arise in AIDS patients. JC virus is
widely distributed in the general population, with estimates of population exposure ranging
from 30-80%. JC virus remains latent in the host, and in profoundly immunosuppressed
patients, JC virus can cause PML, a fatal disease associated with neurotropic JC virus that
lytically infects oligodendrocytes. In untreated AIDS populations, the frequency of PML has
been estimated at roughly 5%. This study will identify host genetic factors that may
contribute to the development of PML in the AIDS population.