Subacute Sclerosing (Inclusion Body) Encephalitis

Abstract

Five cases of subacute sclerosing (inclusion body) encephalitis have been diagnosed in the North-Eastern Region of Scotland in the period 1952-61. The annual incidence of the disease in this area appears to be less than 1 per million total population. Two of these cases were brother and sister. The occurrence of this condition in 2 sibs has only once previously been reported. The clinical, electroencephalographic, and pathological features of these cases are described. Attention is drawn in particular to the tendency of this disease to declare itself by personality changes which may be obvious for months before abnormal physical signs appear. Of the 5 cases, 3 came to necropsy, and 2 of them showed typical inclusion bodies. It is suggested that these inclusions are probably not of etiological significance.