The history of studies on subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in Poland

The main trends are described in the studies of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis conducted in Poland or abroad with participation of Polish scientists. The history of these studies began in the years 1957-1959 with the works of Wender and Osetowska and ends presently at the end of our century with extinction of SSPE as a result of consistently conducted obligatory vaccinations against measles. The studies of Polish authors involved the problems of clinical diagnosis using immunological, electrophysiological and neurological imaging methods. Neuropathological problems were also studied extensively. Parallely with similar studies in the foremost foreign centres trials of SSPE treatment were undertaken in Poland, in recent years by means of intracerebroventricular administration of interferons. An original Polish method was the treatment with inducers of endogenous interferons. After the introduction of vaccinations against measles epidemiological studies repeated in the whole country were introduced for the assessment of the results of this preventive measure. These studies are regarded as model ones at international level.