title: Rapidly progressive subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: an ultrastructural and immunoperoxidase study.
abstract: A case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in a 20-year-old male who died within 2 months, is described. Light microscopy revealed massive neuronal loss, reactive gliosis, perivascular cuffing and intranuclear (Cowdry type A) and intracytoplasmic inclusions. Immunocytochemical stain with the complement-fixing measles antibody was positive for intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusions. The reactive glia cells were positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein. Electron microscopy revealed a paramyxovirus-like structure of the nucleocapsids, occasionally showing a 'fuzzy' appearance in the cytoplasm. Crystal-like intracytoplasmic inclusions were also seen. The inclusions occurred in oligodendroglia cells, astrocytes and neurons. This case illustrates a rapidly progressive form of SSPE which, in some aspects, differs from the chronic form and resembles acute measles encephalitis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007181:Inclusion Bodies, Viral / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins