Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

A retrospective study of 36 confirmed cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) was carried out to detect any variation in the clinical and EEG patterns previously described. There were 31 males and 5 females, aged 4 to 24 years. Onset of SSPE at or after 15 years of age was observed in 22.2% of cases. Rapid progression of the disease was observed in 52%. The first symptom was myoclonus in 61.6%, mental regression in 22.2% and generalised seizures in 11.1% of cases. Low positive measles antibody titres in the CSF were found in 36.1% of cases. EEG analysis revealed slow background in 69.2% and periodic complexes in 94.4% of cases. Atypical periodic complexes, focal abnormalities and paroxysms of bisynchronus sharp activity were also observed.