Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis – current perspectives

Abstract

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. It usually occurs 7–10 years after measles infection. The clinical course is characterized by progressive cognitive decline and behavior changes followed by focal or generalized seizures as well as myoclonus, ataxia, visual disturbance, and later vegetative state, eventually leading to death. It is diagnosed on the basis of Dyken’s criteria. There is no known cure for subacute sclerosing panencephalitis to date, but it is preventable by ensuring that an effective vaccine program for measles is made compulsory for all children younger than 5 years in endemic countries.

Keywords:

• SSPE
• progressive
• vaccine
• preventable

Acknowledgments

The ethical review committee of the Aga Khan University agreed that no patient consent for the use of the figures was needed as patient data was kept anonymous.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.