Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Studies of two cases treated with 5-bromo-2-Deoxyuridine

Two cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis treated with 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BUDR) are reported. Both cases had a classical presentation with motor and mental deterioration, myoclonic jerks, paretic colloidal gold curve in CSF and periodic bursts of the EEG. The diagnosis was confirmed by brain biopsy with light and electron microscopic findings. Immunological studies revealed markedly elevated serum and CSF measles antibodies on serial determinations by the virus neutralization, complement fixation and hemagglutination inhibition techniques. Both cases were treated with 100 mg./kg./day of BUDR, intravenously, for five days, and Case 2 received a second course of treatment. Only minimal side effects were experienced from the use of BUDR; clinical symptoms showed sustained improvement in Case 1 and no further deterioration in Case 2. Both patients survived for more than 16 months. More extensive controlled trials with antiviral agents for the treatment of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis appear to be justified.