The value of serial auditory brainstem response in patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
A total of 98 serial auditory brainstem responses from 17 patients (11 boys and 6 girls) with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis were compared with their clinical course and stages. These patients were exposed to measles early in life (at 1.8 +/- 1.4 years old) with the average onset of the disease at 8.8 +/- 0.7 years of age. The main abnormalities of their auditory brainstem responses were a prolongation of waves I, III, and V, and of the I to V interpeak interval. Wave V thresholds were also elevated. These effects on the auditory brainstem responses started 1 to 2 years after onset of neurologic signs. I to V interpeak latency became prolonged with the progress of clinical stages, especially in Jabbour's clinically advanced stage IV. In two patients with an acute progressive type of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, very rapid deterioration with a distorted wave pattern of later components was observed. These findings suggest rostrocaudal progression in the central nervous system of both long-term and fulminant cases.
Inagaki
M
M
Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan. ingaki@ncnp-k.go.jp
Kaga
M
M
Nihei
K
K
Naitoh
H
H
Takayama
S
S
Sugai
K
K
D000208:Acute Disease; D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012032:Refractory Period, Electrophysiological; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic