[S-35] Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in the era of disease-modifying therapies

[S-35-4] JC virus detection methods in the cerebrospinal fluid for PML-diagnosis; past, present, and future

Masayuki Saijo, Kazuo Nakamichi (Department of Virology 1, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan)

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare and severe demyelinating disease of the white matter in the central nervous system caused by JC virus. Multiple sclerosis (MS) treating with disease-modifying therapies (DMT) is newly coming underlying disease of PML. In MS, DMT have recently been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of clinical relapse. Although freedom from disease activity has become the primary aim of the treatment of MS, these DMT increase the risk of PML.
In this symposium, latest information of DMT induced PML, characteristics of MRI in DMT induced PML, development of JC virus DNA detection in the cerebrospinal fluid, and newly aspects of PML will be presented.

Educational carrier:
Graduated from the Asahikawa Medical University in 1987 (MD)
Graduated from the post graduate school, Asahikawa Medical University (Ph D) in 1991

Occupational carrier:
April 1991-March1994: Department of Pediatrics, Nayoro City General Hospital, Nayoro, Japan
April 1994-March 1997: Department of Pediatrics, Asahikawa Medical University Hospital, Asahikawa, Japan
[June 1995-May 1996: JICA expert for the Infection Control Project in Zambia, JICA (University Teaching Hospital, University of Zambia), Lusaka, Zambia]

April 1997-October 2007: Researcher in the Department of Virology 1, National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID)
November 2007-September 2010: Chief ofNeurovirology Laboratory, Department of Virology 1, NIID
October 2010-present: Director of the Department of Virology 1, NIID

Research fields: Virus infections . Specific areas of the research are antiviral agents, development of diagnostics, preventive measures including vaccine development and therapeutics.