Diseases

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis

A rare, slowly progressive encephalitis caused by chronic infection with the MEASLES VIRUS. The condition occurs primarily in children and young adults, approximately 2-8 years after the initial infection. A gradual decline in intellectual abilities and behavioral alterations are followed by progressive MYOCLONUS; MUSCLE SPASTICITY; SEIZURES; DEMENTIA; autonomic dysfunction; and ATAXIA. DEATH usually occurs 1-3 years after disease onset. Pathologic features include perivascular cuffing, eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions, neurophagia, and fibrous gliosis. It is caused by the SSPE virus, which is a defective variant of MEASLES VIRUS. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp767-8)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A rare, slowly progressive encephalitis caused by chronic infection with the MEASLES VIRUS. The condition occurs primarily in children and young adults, approximately 2-8 years after the initial infection. A gradual decline in intellectual abilities and behavioral alterations are followed by progressive MYOCLONUS; MUSCLE SPASTICITY; SEIZURES; DEMENTIA; autonomic dysfunction; and ATAXIA. DEATH usually occurs 1-3 years after disease onset. Pathologic features include perivascular cuffing, eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions, neurophagia, and fibrous gliosis. It is caused by the SSPE virus, which is a defective variant of MEASLES VIRUS. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp767-8)

MeSH Record

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MeSH Record

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

21 entry terms
  • Encephalitis, Inclusion Body, Measles
  • Inclusion Body Encephalitis, Measles
  • Leukoencephalitis, Subacute Sclerosing
  • Leukoencephalitis, Van Bogaert's
  • Measles Inclusion Body Encephalitis
  • Panencephalitis, Subacute Sclerosing
  • SSPE
  • Sclerosing Leukoencephalitis, Subacute
  • Sclerosing Panencephalitis, Subacute
  • Van Bogaert's Leukoencephalitis
  • Leukoencephalitides, Subacute Sclerosing
  • Leukoencephalitis, Van Bogaert
  • Leukoencephalitis, Van Bogaerts
  • Panencephalitides, Subacute Sclerosing
  • Sclerosing Leukoencephalitides, Subacute
  • Sclerosing Panencephalitides, Subacute
  • Subacute Sclerosing Leukoencephalitides
  • Subacute Sclerosing Leukoencephalitis
  • Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitides
  • Van Bogaert Leukoencephalitis
  • Van Bogaerts Leukoencephalitis

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

36 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, transmission, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

71; VAN BOGAERT'S LEUKOENCEPHALITIS was see under SUBACUTE SCLEROSING PANENCEPHALITIS 1971-78; was see under CEREBRAL SCLEROSIS, DIFFUSE 1963-70

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Cerebral Sclerosis, Diffuse (1966-1970)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. C01w.207w.245w.340w.600w
  2. C01w.207w.399.750w.600w
  3. C01w.925w.182w.525w.600w
  4. C01w.925w.782.580.600.500.500w.800w
  5. C01w.925w.839w.862w
  6. C10w.228w.140w.430w.520.750w.600w
  7. C10w.228w.228w.245w.340w.600w
  8. C10w.228w.228w.399.750w.600w
  9. C10w.586.250w.520.750w.600w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D013344. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D013344
  2. Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subacute_sclerosing_panencephalitis
  3. Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2475919