Virus-like Particles in Sub-acute Sclerosing Encephalitis

Abstract

SUB-ACUTE sclerosing encephalitis (van Bogaert) is a fatal disease of the central nervous system of uncertain origin, usually affecting children and adolescents. The pathological features of this disease are diffuse inflammatory cell infiltrates in the white and grey matter, gliosis, and demyelination¹. Frequently, Type A intranuclear inclusion bodies have been observed in neurones of cases running a short clinical course (Dawson's inclusion body encephalitis) while in the more chronic cases these bodies are less frequently found. Although often a viral aetiology has been suggested, the cause of this disease remains obscure, since animal inoculations of brain tissue have been unsuccessful in transmitting the disease¹.