About The Medical Condition Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis

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Find the definition of the medical term Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis. Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis defined and explained for easy understanding at the Medical Conditions from ClusterMed.info.

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis Medical Condition Defined & Explained
Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis Medical Condition

What's The Definition Of The Medical Condition 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)

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