Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

Six cases of SSPE are reported with clinical, EEG and biological data. The clinical picture was usually typical with a slow onset, the development of dementia, epilepsy and hypertonia and often with temporary improvement. The disease began between 8 and 19 years of age. Two patients died after an evolution of more than 5 years; 4 others are still alive after 3–6 years. Most of the 49 EEG recordings obtained in these cases showed the typical abnormalities. All 23 CSF specimens showed increased γ-globulin with M(myeloma) components; 80% of 26 serum specimens also displayed M components. In 9 CSF and 18 serum specimens increased measles antibody titres were present. The characteristic clinical picture of SSPE should be redefined to take into account the increasing number of chronic cases of the disease which are being recognised.