title: [Progressive cognitive disturbances in a 17-year-old boy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a fatal encephalitis manifesting a number of years after a primary measles infection. This disease has become very rare since the introduction of immunisation against measles in 1976.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 17-year-old boy presented with progressive cognitive disturbances and extrapyramidal symptoms that had developed over a few weeks. He had not been immunised because of his parents' religious beliefs, and had contracted measles at 4 years of age. An EEG was performed on the basis of clinical suspicion of SSPE, and showed the SSPE-specific, characteristic pattern of periodic complexes as described by Radermecker. The diagnosis of SSPE was confirmed by cerebrospinal fluid examination. Our patient died 4 months after initial diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SSPE is still occurring in the Netherlands. The absence of effective treatment underlines the importance of prevention by means of immunization against measles.
authors.affiliation: VU medisch centrum, Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Dagmar H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Hepp
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.forename: Cornelis J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Stam
authors.forename: Bob W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: van Oosten
authors.forename: Elisabeth M J
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Foncke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000150:complications*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009426:Netherlands; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine