IX. Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE)

C. Pathological changes

Gross pathology: Changes are mild and are not diagnostic.

Microscopic pathology: Inclusion bodies in oligodendroglia, neurons and astrocytes; chronic inflammatory reaction (perivascular cuffing by lymphocytes and plasma cells); some neuronal loss, gliosis and demyelination. Ultrastructural changes include paramyxovirus nucleocapsid tubules characteristic of measles virus in the inclusion bodies.