Abstract
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a late-onset, intractable, and fatal viral disease caused by persistent infection of the central nervous system by a mutant strain of the measles virus. Ribavirin intracerebroventricular therapy has already been administered to several SSPE patients in Japan based on fundamental and clinical research findings from our group, with positive therapeutic effects reported in some patients. However, the efficacy of this treatment approach has not been unequivocally established. Hence, development of more effective therapeutic methods using new antiviral agents is urgently needed. This review describes the current status of SSPE treatment and research, highlighting promising approaches to the development of more effective therapeutic methods.
Highlights
Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative encephalitis caused by persistence of the measles virus in the central nervous system (CNS)
Since the incidence of SSPE is low in developed countries, evaluating the efficacy of drugs against SSPE using comparative studies with a control drug is difficult
The clinical course of SSPE varies from case to case, and the effectiveness of antiviral therapy and changes in prognosis must be carefully determined by long-term observation in a larger number of cases
Summary
Advances in Antiviral Therapy for Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis. Despite the availability of effective measles vaccination programs, measles remains a major cause of child mortality worldwide. The WHO Global Vaccine Action Plan aims to achieve measles eradication in at least five World Health Organization regions by 2020 [1]. The number of measles cases has continued to increase until 2019, with data showing that the number of measles cases in the first three months of 2019 increased by. Measles can be almost completely prevented with two safe and effective vaccine doses, global coverage of the first dose of measles vaccine remains stagnant at 85% [2]. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative encephalitis caused by persistence of the measles virus in the central nervous system (CNS). This review discusses various prevalent approaches and new avenues in SSPE antiviral therapy
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