[Mononeuritis multiplex associated with measles virus infection].

We describe a 19-year-old patient who developed mononeuritis multiplex associated with measles virus infection. On April 30th, 1995, he suffered from fever and skin eruption, which disappeared ten days later. Thirteen days later, he noticed weakness of the fingers of both hands and forearms, and pain on both elbow joints. He was admitted to our hospital on June 12th, 1995. Neurologic examination revealed weakness and sensory disturbance, confined to the distal aspects of the right radial nerve and left median nerve. The electrodiagnostic findings confirmed those of axonal neuropathy in the right radial and left median nerves. Routine laboratory studies were normal. The cerebrospinal fluid test and EEG were normal. The IgG and IgM antibody titers against measles virus continued to be elevated in serum over four months after the onset, while they were not elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid. The corticosteroid therapy was mildly effective. Although the pathogenesis of this case is unclear, we speculate that the mononeuritis multiplex was caused by vasculitis related to the persistent measles virus infection in both elbow areas.