The immunological aspects of acute C.N.S. complications of the exanthematous viral diseases.

A total of 21 patients with postmeasles and 26 patients with postvaricella C.N.S. complications were studied. In both groups, males were predominant than females. The C.N.S. manifestations included disturbed level of consciousness, coma, seizures, motor deficits, ataxia and myoclonus. The sequelae were more frequent in postmeasles cases and ranged from behavioral abnormalities to motor deficits. C.S.F. examination showed that most of the cases demonstrated increase in the protein content (45-100mg) and pleocytosis. Myelin protein was detected in 8 samples and 6 samples of postmeasles and varicella C.S.F. out of 12 samples in Tested in each group. Specific virus IgG antibody was detected significantly in 8 paired C.S.F. samples of postvaricella group and only one sample of postmeasles out of 12 paired samples tested in each group. C-T. scan examination revealed that the most common finding was the brain oedema (13 in measles, and 21 in varicella group).