Opportunistic CNS Viral Infections in Immunocompromised Patients.

Authors

Adriana A M Giuliani, Nancy Law

Published in

Viruses. Volume 18. Issue 7. Jul 20, 2026. Epub Jul 20, 2026.

Abstract

Immunocompromised patients face increased morbidity and mortality from central nervous system (CNS) opportunistic viral infections, with risk level driven by specific immune defects. While our diagnostic capacity expands, immunocompromised patients may present atypically or with mild symptoms, delaying or complicating diagnosis. Treatment options are often limited, although novel agents show promise. This review discusses why immunocompromised patients carry higher immunologic risk and how certain viral classes display neurotropism to invade the CNS. We outline the utility and limitations of current and emerging diagnostic strategies. We discuss specific opportunistic viral pathogens, denoting specific epidemiology or pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, and treatment and prevention methods. While there still remain knowledge and treatment gaps, advancements in diagnostics and understanding of pathogens have begun to improve outcomes.

PMID:
42515650
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 28 Jul 2026.

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