Subacute Sclerosing Leukoencephalitis^*^†

Abstract

The clinical and pathologic changes manifested by a young female patient with subacute selerosing leukoeneephalitis have been described. Clinical features included early psychological changes and visual abnormalities, followed by progressive dementia, myoclonus, rigidity, and death. Laboratory findings were: a periodic EEG abnormality and an elevated cerebrospinal fluid gamma globulin. Pathological changes included subacute inflammatory changes, gliosis, and extensive demyelination. Virus-like particles, 600 to 800 Å in diameter, were found in the cytoplasm of astrocytes. No infectious agent was recovered from rodents or tissue culture cell lines inoculated with brain material.