Dr  Sampurna Roy  MD

 Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, slowly progressive neurological disorder caused by the persistent infection with measles virus. It was first described by Dawson in 1934.       Visit: Measles: click here

Age: Children and young adults.

Gross:

The gross changes are usually mild .Cortical atrophy, demyelination and ventricular dilatation may be present.

Microscopic features: 

The pathologic findings in SSPE are those of a subacute encephalitis involving the white and gray matter of the cerebral hemisphere and the brainstem ;

Inclusion bodies in oligodendroglia, neurons and astrocytes ;

Perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates ;

Evidence of neuronal loss ;

In later stages diffuse proliferations of glial cells and degeneration of myelin occur.

Electron microscopy:

Inclusions are seen to contain tubular paramyxovirus-like nucleocapsids. 

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