Biological Significance of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies: Lessons Learned From Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in a patient with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia after COVID-19 vaccination, complicated with COVID-19 and mucormycosis: a case report

BACKGROUND

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare and fatal opportunistic viral demyelinating infectious disease of the central nervous system (CNS). There are various clinical presenting symptoms for the disease.

CASE PRESENTATION

This paper presents a clinical case of PML in a patient with B-Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), previously treated with Chlorambucil, later complicated later with COVID-19 and mucormycosis.

CONCLUSION

PML can develop in the setting of cellular immune dysfunction. Late diagnosis of this disease based on nonspecific symptoms is common, therefore when we face a neurological complication in a CLL or immunocompromised patient, we should consider PML infection. A remarkable feature of this case is the possible triggering effect of COVID-19 vaccination for emergence of PML as the disease can be asymptomatic or sub-clinical before diagnosis.