Peripheral neuropathy in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis-immunohistochemical and ultrastructural evidence

A patient with SSPE who had prominent diffuse white matter hypodensities on CT scan indicating central white matter demyelination and nerve conduction abnormalities suggestive of peripheral neuropathy is reported. Diagnosis was established by demonstration of elevated CSF measles antibody titers and presence of virus antigen and nucleocapsid in peripheral nerve. To our knowledge, this is the first report of demonstration of measles virus nucleocapsides and antigen in the peripheral nerve in SSPE.