Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a degenerative disease of the brain caused by a persistent measles virus infection occurring mostly in childhood or early adolescence. The spectrum of epileptic phenomena associated with SSPE is wide, varying from partial or generalized tonic-clonic seizures and atypical absences to myoclonic-atonic attacks. Tonic seizures are very rare in SSPE. Herein, we discuss a case of 25 years old male that presented with adult-onset SSPE with tonic seizures accompanying myoclonic seizures. Patient was treated with clonazepam 5 mg/day and an isoprinosine regimen with a dose of 70 mg/kg/day. This is the fourth case of SSPE presenting with myoclonic and tonic seizures and the first case of SSPE with myoclonic and tonic seizures reported in an adult-onset case in the English literature. Adult-onset SSPE with tonic seizures is rare and may be confusing, thus, it is important to recognize the presence of this type of tonic motor seizures in SSPE patients.
Ozge Yagcioglu Yassa, Gulay Kenangil, Ayse Destina Yalcin. Adult-onset subacute sclerosing panencephalitis presenting with tonic motor seizures. The International journal of neuroscience. 2021 Sep;131(9):914-918
PMID: 32370641
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