Rapid progressive subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in a 2-year-old child with congenital athyreosis.
We present the unique case of a 2-year-old girl with congenital athyreosis who acquired primary measles virus infection at the age of 18 months, coincidentally with an Epstein-Barr virus infection. First neurologic symptoms of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis appeared 5 months later, and the girl died within 6 months after a rapid progressive illness. Factors possibly predisposing to this extraordinary disease course-primary measles virus infection at an early age and lack of evidence for immunodeficiency-are discussed.
Department of Pediatrics, Heinrich-Heine University, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
G M
GM
Lackmann
M
M
Hannen
F
F
Madjlessi
H G
HG
Lenard
H
H
Schroten
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002825:Chorioretinitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D005123:Eye / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008457:Measles / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000002:abnormalities*; D013997:Time Factors