Affiliations: Department of Neurology, Grant Medical College and Sir
JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, India
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Satish V. Khadilkar, Room no 110, First
Floor, MRC Bulding, Bombay Hospital, Mumbai, India. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Thirty two patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)
admitted under the care of Department of Neurology at JJ Hospital and Grant
Medical College, Mumbai during the period 1998-2003 were analyzed. All patients
were evaluated clinically, with relevant investigations and neuroimaging
wherever possible. Particular attention was given to early clinical features.
Diagnosis was confirmed by cerebrospinal fluid study for measles antibody and
by electroencephalography. The mean age of our patients was 13.4 years and the
vaccinated patients tended to be older. Nine patients had received measles
vaccination. Twelve percent of patients were older than the age of 20 years at
the onset of symptoms. Approximately 40.6% of patients presented with symptoms
of loss of vision, seizures and behavioral change. At this stage myoclonus and
cognitive decline were conspicuous by their absence. Eventually typical
features like myoclonus and cognitive decline evolved after a mean period of 8
months. Even in the present era, SSPE continues to remain the most important
cause of progressive myoclonic epilepsy. With progressive increase in age of
presentation, in patients with features like loss of vision, seizures and
behavioral changes, SSPE should be carefully considered. (J Pediatr Neurol
2004; 2(2): 73–77).
Keywords: early clinical features, SSPE, vision loss, seizures
