The first steps are insidious,
with symptoms of apathy, night fears, irritation, hallucination
and decrease of school performances. Sometimes convulsions
occur.
A few months later abrupt involuntary movements (myoclonia)
may appear, along with hypertonia of the limbs and further
intellectual decline.
What do we know about the mechanisms
of the disease?
The virus of measles isolated from lymphocytes
and the brain is “defective”, that is to say it has lost
one of its proteins.
The disorder is not genetic: in identical twins, both of
whom have suffered an attack of measles, panencephalitis
may occur in only one case.
Why is the body unable to eliminate the
virus?
A very high level of measles antibody exists
which seems to be ineffective.
The T lymphocytes, which are the cells that are responsible
for immunity and killing viruses, seem to be ineffective.
Can panencephalitis be prevented?
Yes, it can.
The measles vaccination that is recommended for all infants
around the age of one is highly effective in preventing
panencephalitis.
Unfortunately, the vaccine is not effective before the age
of 1 and therefore does not protect the child from measles
in the first year of its life.
In all Western countries, the incidence of panencephalitis
has decreased by 90%.
What is the suggested treatment?
A number of therapeutic methods have been
applied:
- Injection of gamma globulins
- Immunostimulants
- Interferon
- Antiviral agents: The antiviral agent Ribavirin (“Virazole”)
inhibits multiplication of the panencephalitis virus
in vitro
You can also read an SSPE
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