BRAIN ENDOTHELIAL-CELL INFECTION IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE FATAL MEASLES

Neurologic diseases are important complications of measles, The role o f virus infection of the central nervous system as well as the route o f virus entry has been unclear. Five autopsied cases of individuals wh o died with severe acute measles 3-10 d after the onset of the rash we re studied for evidence of viral involvement of the central nervous sy stem. In all cases, in situ hybridization and RT-PCR in situ hybridiza tion techniques showed endothelial cell infection, Immunoperoxidase st aining with an anti-ferritin antibody revealed a reactive microgliosis . These data suggest that endothelial cells in the brain are frequentl y infected during acute fatal measles, This site of infection may prov ide a portal of entry for virus in individuals who subsequently develo p subacute sclerosing panencephalitis or measles inclusion body enceph alitis and a target for immunologic reactions in postmeasles encephalo myelitis.