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Fast‐wave periodic complexes in a mentally retarded child who later developed subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: a modification of a classic EEG by preexisting brain damage?
Author(s) -
Narayan Sunil K.,
Kuruvilla Abraham,
Shanmugam J.,
Radhakrishnan V V.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8749.1997.tb07380.x
Subject(s) - subacute sclerosing panencephalitis , myoclonic jerk , measles , etiology , brain biopsy , pediatrics , medicine , electroencephalography , mentally retarded , measles virus , biopsy , pathology , psychology , psychiatry , developmental psychology , vaccination
The EEG of a 12‐year‐old girl with stage H subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), who had also suffered from a non‐progressive mental retardation of unknown aetiology since early childhood, revealed periodic generalised stereotyped fast wave bursts synchronous with myoclonic jerks. The background activity was nearly normal. The diagnosis of SSPE was established by raised serum and measles antibody titres, raised CSF IgO, and brain biopsy. This rare type of periodic complex has only once been described in the literature, again in a mentally retarded child who had developed SSPE. We suggest a mechanism of origin of this type of periodic complex drawn from observations in these two cases, and discuss its significance.