Risk W S, Haddad F S, Chemali R
Arch Neurol. 1978 Aug;35(8):494-502. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1978.00500320014004.
Of 118 cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis identified in an extensive follow-up study in the Middle East, six patients were found by personal interview to have experienced substantial spontaneous long-term improvement. To our knowledge, this rate of 5% for such improvement is presently the most accurate estimate available. Relative to the onset of clinical illness, the conditions of two patients are still improving four to five years later, two are stable four to six years later, one relapsed and died recently after eight years, and one is currently in relapse after 11 years. The condition of five patients had not progressed beyond stage 2 before improvement began. All patients had characteristic clinical and electroencephalographic features. Two patients had brain biopsy specimens showing panencephalitis without inclusions. Five patients had highly elevated levels of serum and CSF measles antibodies. In this article, the course of illness and extent of disability are described, published reports of improvement are reviewed, and the possibility of subclinical illness is discussed.
在中东地区一项广泛的随访研究中确诊的118例亚急性硬化性全脑炎患者中，通过个人访谈发现有6例患者出现了显著的自发性长期改善。据我们所知，这种改善率为5%，是目前可得的最准确估计。相对于临床疾病发作，两名患者的病情在四到五年后仍在改善，两名患者在四到六年后病情稳定，一名患者在八年后复发并于近期死亡，一名患者在11年后目前处于复发状态。五名患者在改善开始前病情尚未进展到2期以上。所有患者均具有典型的临床和脑电图特征。两名患者的脑活检标本显示为无包涵体的全脑炎。五名患者的血清和脑脊液麻疹抗体水平高度升高。本文描述了疾病进程和残疾程度，回顾了已发表的关于改善的报告，并讨论了亚临床疾病的可能性。
