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The electroencephalographic signature of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

O padrão eletrencefalográfico da panencefalite esclerosante subaguda

Periodic long-interval diffuse discharges synchronized with myoclonic jerks in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) are a very specific pattern in electroencephalography11. Dunand AC, Jallon P. Les activités paroxystiques pseudo-périodiques en électroencéphalographie. Neurophysiol Clin 2002;32:2-37.. They are characterized by generalized synchronous high-voltage complexes (300–1000 µV), composed of two or more waves consisting of variable elements, such as slow waves usually mixed with sharp waves. Complexes last from 0.5 to 3 seconds and recur every 5–7 seconds, as in the electroencephalographic record of a 15-year-old male patient presenting progressive cognitive deterioration and myoclonus showed in the Figure.

Figure.
Thirty-second epoch of an electroencephalographic record, performed in April 2011, in a case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, disclosing periodic long-interval diffuse discharges, occurring every seven seconds. Parameters are as follows: sensitivity 10 µV/mm, time constant 0.3 s and high-frequency filter 70 Hz.

Although SSPE is considered a vanishing disease22. Gadoth N. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) the story of a vanishing disease. Brain Dev 2012;34:705-711., global eradication may be hard to achieve, considering that outbreaks of measles occur worldwide on a regular basis and remain a public health problem in many countries33. Kupferschmidt K. Europe's embarrassing problem. Science 2012:336:406-407.55. Oliveira MI, Figueiredo CA, Afonso AM, et al. Ressurgence of measles vírus in São Paulo, Brazil. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2012;54:113-114..

References

  • 1
    Dunand AC, Jallon P. Les activités paroxystiques pseudo-périodiques en électroencéphalographie. Neurophysiol Clin 2002;32:2-37.
  • 2
    Gadoth N. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) the story of a vanishing disease. Brain Dev 2012;34:705-711.
  • 3
    Kupferschmidt K. Europe's embarrassing problem. Science 2012:336:406-407.
  • 4
    Mulholland EK, Griffiths UK, Biellik R. Measles in the 21st century. N Engl J Med 2012;366:1755-1757.
  • 5
    Oliveira MI, Figueiredo CA, Afonso AM, et al. Ressurgence of measles vírus in São Paulo, Brazil. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2012;54:113-114.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Mar 2013

History

  • Received
    7 July 2012
  • Received
    22 Nov 2012
  • Accepted
    29 Nov 2012
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