Adult-onset subacute sclerosing panencephalitis presented with neuropsychiatric symptoms

Abstract

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by persistent infection of the brain with the measles virus. The most clinical presentations are behavioural changes and deterioration of mental status. The diagnosis is made with the characteristic clinical picture along with the consistent laboratory findings such as increased anti-measles antibody levels in cerebrospinal fluid accompanied by typical electroencephalographic and cranial imaging findings. SSPE usually affects children. Adult-onset SSPE is very rare and often presents with atypical features. We report here the case of a 62-year female presented with neuropsychiatric symptoms in whom SSPE was diagnosed based on cerebrospinal fluid, electroencephalographic and cranial imaging findings.