RETURNClinicopathological Study of Long-Term Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) Survivors
Sadataka Houdou, Kunio Yoshino†, Masahiko Kimura†, Isematsu Eda‡, Yukinori Maeoka‡ and Kenzo Takeshita*
Division of Neuropathology and *Division of Child Neurology, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683,†Nishi-Tottori National Sanatorium Hospital, Tottori 680 and ‡Shimane Rehabilittion Institute for Physically Handicapped Children, Gotsu 695, Japan
Two patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), both of whom survived for 10 years after disease onset, were retrospectively investigated to search for factors implicated in their long-term survival. An analysis of immunological titers, neurophysiological findings, CT findings and drug transformation revealed no difference between these patients and other SSPE background of the 2 patients also showed no specific tendencies. The brain of one of the 2 patients, who survived for 9 years and 6 months, showed severe and generalized atrophy with severe neuronal loss with numerous hypertrophied astrocytes and glial nodules. It was surprising that evidence of infectious reaction was present even in the neuropathological findings of the brain, which had been infected 10 years previously. Neither inclusion bodies nor immunohistochemically positive reactions to measles virus, however, were found in the brain tissue.
Key words: SSPE; subacute sclerosing panencehalitis