Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

ABSTRACT

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is an inflammatory neurodegenerative disease related to the persistence of measles virus. Although its frequency is declining because of measles eradication, we still have some cases being diagnosed. With the aim to describe epidemiological aspects of SSPE in Brazil, we sent a protocol to Child Neurologists around the contry, 48 patients were registered, 27 (56 per cent) were from the southeast region, 34 (71 per cent) were male and 35 (73 per cent) white, 27 (56 per cento) had measles, 9 (19 per cent) had measles and were also immunized, 7 (14 per cent) received only immunization, 1 patient had a probable neonatal form. Mean time between first symptoms and diagnosis was 12 months (22 started with myclonus or tonic-clonic seizures, 7 (14 per cent) with behavioral disturbances); 36 patients (75 per cent) had EEG with pseudoperiodic complexes. Follow up performed in 28 (58 per cent) patients showed 12 died, 2 had complete remission and the others had variable neurological disability Our data shows endemic regions in the country, a high incidence of post-immunization SSPE and a delay between first symptom and diagnosis.