SSPE - the continuing challenge: a study based on serological evidence from a teritary care centre in India.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).


METHODS
In the period June 96 to December' 98 an analysis for measles virus (MV) antibody was carried out on 103 serum-CSF pairs received from patients clinically suspected of SSPE. Measles antibody was detected in an indirect immunofluorescent assay (IIF) test.


RESULTS
Antibody to measles was detectable in 49 (48%) of the serum-CSF pairs tested, a diagnostic criterion for SSPE. Antibody titers ranged from 20 to 1280 in serum and neat to 32 in CSF. The serum: CSF ratio ranged from 5:1 to 80:1. Of the 49 patients diagnosed to have SSPE, 36 were males and 13 females, and the age of the patients at the time of diagnosis of SSPE ranged from 5 to 26 years. Ten of the SSPE patients gave a history of measles vaccination.


CONCLUSIONS
Inadequate vaccine coverage and quality of vaccine used continue to have an impact on occurrence of SSPE.
Department of Clinical Virology, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore - 632 004, India.
D J
DJ
Manayani
M
M
Abraham
C
C
Gnanamuthu
T
T
Solomon
M
M
Alexander
G
G
Sridharan