A81.1

Applicable To

• Dawson’s inclusion body encephalitis

• Van Bogaert’s sclerosing leukoencephalopathy

Clinical Information

• A rare, slowly progressive encephalitis caused by chronic infection with the measles virus. The condition occurs primarily in children and young adults, approximately 2-8 years after the initial infection. A gradual decline in intellectual abilities and behavioral alterations are followed by progressive myoclonus; muscle spasticity; seizures; dementia; autonomic dysfunction; and ataxia. Death usually occurs 1-3 years after disease onset. Pathologic features include perivascular cuffing, eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions, neurophagia, and fibrous gliosis. It is caused by the sspe virus, which is a defective variant of measles virus. from Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp767-8)

• A rare, slowly progressive post-infectious neurological disorder affecting the central nervous system. It is characterized by seizures, ataxia, myoclonus, personality changes, spasticity, and coma. The symptoms appear several years following measles infection at an early age.

• Rare chronic progressive encephalitis caused by the measles virus and occurring primarily in children and young adults; death usually occurs within three years; characterized by primary measles infection before the age of two years.

Details

• A81.1 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes.

• The 2023 edition of ICD-10-CM A81.1 became effective on October 1, 2022.

• This is the American ICD-10-CM version of A81.1 – other international versions of ICD-10 A81.1 may differ.