Case Reports
Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis Causing Rapidly Progressive Dementia and Myoclonic Jerks in a Sexagenarian Woman
Authors:
- Antonio Jose Reyes
- Kanterpersad RamcharanEmail Kanterpersad Ramcharan
- Sean Perot
- Stanley Lawrence Giddings
- Fidel Rampersad
- Reanna Gobin
Abstract
Background: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a disease of childhood and adolescence, but can affect adults. Rapidly progressive cognitive decline, seizures including myoclonic jerks, spasticity, ataxia, visual disturbances, and incontinence are typical manifestations.
Case report: A 62-year-old woman who presented with rapidly progressive dementia and myoclonus was diagnosed with SSPE. There was resolution of the movement disorder with clonazepam and valproic acid treatment and some amelioration of cognitive decline after 3 months of therapy with interferon alfa and isoprinosine.
Discussion: With the recent rise in measles cases worldwide, any increased incidence of SSPE would require vigilance for early interventions.
- Year: 2019
- Volume: 9
- DOI: 10.5334/tohm.480
- Submitted on 14 Jun 2019
- Accepted on 30 Jul 2019
- Published on 27 Aug 2019
- Peer Reviewed