SUBACUTE SCLEROSING PANENCEPHALITIS AND MEASLES VACCINE

The mean interval between measles and onset of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is approximately 6 years. Death usually occurs in 6 to 12 months thereafter. Measles virus may be recovered from brain tissues at time of biopsy and autopsy. High measles antibody titers are present in the serum and spinal fluid. The use of killed and live measles vaccines for young children has introduced the possibility that the vaccines may cause the disease or stimulate expression of a latent infection. A history of measles infection was documented in 114 of the 200 patients with SSPE. The mean incubation period between time of measles infection and onset of SSPE was 6 years ± 2.5 years. The administration of measles vaccine following measles infection did not effect this interval. In this population there was no evidence that measles vaccine shortened the “incubation period” of SSPE.