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A Cause of Visual Loss

Richard E. Appen, MD; Harry Roth, MD; Gabriele M. ZuRhein, MD; John N. Varakis, MD

Arch Ophthalmol. 1977;95(4):656-659.

Abstract
• A patient had been treated for chronic lymphocytic leukemia for five years before developing visual blurring as the manifestation of occipital lobe lesions of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The disease is caused by an infection of the CNS oligodendrocytes by a papovavirus, whose replication is facilitated by an impairment of the host's cellmediated immunologic system. The multiplying virus destroys the oligodendrocytes and causes extensive demyelination of the white matter of the brain. Antiviral agents, such as cytarabine, may be beneficial in treating patients with PML.

(Arch Ophthalmol 95:656-659, 1977)

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Ophthalmology (Drs Appen and Roth) and Pathology (Drs ZuRhein and Varakis), University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Nov 3, 1976.

Read in part before the Neuro-Ophthalmology Pathology symposium, Philadelphia, Feb 20, 1976.

Reprint requests to Department of Ophthalmology, University of Wisconsin Hospitals, 1300 University Ave, Madison, WI 53706 (Dr Appen).

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ABSTRACT