Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)

see also:

• measles
• meningitis
• encephalopathy
• encephalitis
• leukoencephalopathy (ADEM)

• subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a progressive, fatal brain disorder caused by a persistent measles virus infection resulting from a mutated, persistent measles virus residing in the central nervous system

• overall prevalence is estimated at 4 to 11 cases per 100,000 people who contract natural measles but risk is much higher the younger the patient when contracting measles:
  • risk soars dramatically to roughly 1 in 600 for infants who get measles before their first birthday
  • risk is approximately 1 in 1,700 to 1 in 3,300 when children contract measles between age 1 and 5 years
  • risk averages out to about 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 25,000 cases across all age groups combined

• develops slowly, typically 6 to 8 years after an initial, early childhood measles infection
• it is relentlessly progressive and almost always fatal within 1 to 3 years

• cerebrospinal fluid (CSF):
  • very high measles antibody titers
• EEG:
  • features periodic high-amplitude complexes

• can sometimes mimic leukoencephalopathy (ADEM) in its early or rapidly deteriorating stages