The Simultaneous Occurrence of Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis in Two Brothers. I. Clinical, Virologic, and Histopathologic Studies

Abstract

Simultaneous occurrence of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) was documented in two brothers by clinical, histopathologic, electronmicroscopic, immunologic, and virologic studies. Other intrafamilial cases were reviewed, and the implications of all cases of this type were discussed in light of modern concepts of the pathogenesis of SSPE. The findings in studies of such cases cast doubt on the theory of simple random reactivation of measles as a cause of SSPE and suggest that environmental factors may play a role in initiation of the disease.