Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: Is there something different in the younger children?

• Published in: Brain & development (Tokyo. 1979) Vol. 28; no. 10; pp. 649 - 652
• Main Authors: Yilmaz, Deniz, Aydin, Ömer Faruk, Senbil, Nesrin, Yuksel, Deniz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2006
• Subjects: Child, Preschool; Clinical course; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - cerebrospinal fluid; Infancy; Male; Measles virus - immunology; Measles virus - isolation & purification; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis; Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis - epidemiology; Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis - pathology; Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis - physiopathology; Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis; Infancy; Clinical course; Prognosis
• ISSN: 0387-7604; 1872-7131
• DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2006.04.008

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a rare, slow viral infection caused by a defective measles virus. Although it is a rare disease, it is still important in developing countries. The onset is generally between the ages of 5–15 years. We reported the clinical and laboratory profile and nature of 9 patients under the age of 4 years with SSPE. Although it is known that a few patients with SSPE have an acute and rapidly fulminating course, in this study rate of progression was rapidly progressive in 6 patients and progressive in 3 of them on admission. Unfortunately, 4 of them were lost to follow up because of address and/or telephone number alterations. Although the number of patients in this study is not sufficient, we suggest that SSPE patients under the age of 4 years have a poor prognosis as a result of progressive or rapidly progressive course despite medical treatment.