Electroencephalography Patterns of Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pediatrics
• Neurophysiology

Background:

• Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, progressive neurological disorder.
• Research on SSPE's electroencephalography (EEG) patterns in Pakistan is limited.
• This study investigates EEG findings in suspected SSPE patients at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of typical, atypical, and normal electroencephalography (EEG) patterns in patients diagnosed with SSPE.
• To analyze EEG patterns in relation to SSPE diagnosis criteria.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-seven patients (ages 1-20) diagnosed with SSPE based on Dyken's criteria were included.
• Diagnosis involved measles history, SSPE symptoms, positive anti-measles IgG in CSF, typical EEG, and elevated CSF globulin.
• EEG monitoring was conducted in a single laboratory and interpreted by one consultant.

Main Results:

• The study included 77 patients: 59 males (76.62%) and 18 females (23.37%).
• Mean age was 15 ± 8.6 years; mean symptom duration was 4.79 ± 1.68 months.
• Abnormal EEG patterns were observed in 81.81% of patients, with 84.12% of these showing periodic delta wave complexes; 18.18% had normal EEGs.

Conclusions:

• The typical EEG pattern, characterized by periodic high-amplitude delta waves complexes, is highly prevalent in SSPE patients.
• These characteristic EEG findings are often associated with a disease duration exceeding four months.
• Further research with larger sample sizes is recommended to confirm these observations.