Abstract
This report described a case of SSPE, who repeatedly manifested minor epileptic status (MES); a special form of non-convulsive status epilepticus.
Her psychomotor development had been normal until four years five months, when she developed frequent brief episodes of falling down and mental deterioration. On her admission at four years and eleven months, she was diagnosed as SSPE because of the periodic bursts in the EEG and a high titer of measles antibodies and a high IgG level in CSF.
She abruptly manifested confusional state twice during the course of the illness; at four years and seven months, and four years and eleven months, respectively. The first episode lasted for two weeks and the second, for two days. These were regarded as MES because the EEG during the confusional state, revealed irregular high voltage slow waves accompanied by multifocal spikes.
Various kinds of epileptic attacks can occur during the course of SSPE and epileptic discharges such as diffuse slow spike-and-wave burst are often observed at some stages. Her EEG on admission also revealed diffuse slow spike-and-wave bursts frequently but she did not have epileptic attacks. MES in this case was considered to be manifested based on the epileptic mechanism which was caused by SSPE.
In general, MES occurs in the cases of secondary generalized epilepsy, especially in that of the Lennox syndrome. Therefore, the epileptic mechanism in this case may be similar to the pathophysiology in the Lennox syndrome.
Although it is known that MES can occur in the cases with underlying diseases other than epilepsy, this is the first reported case who manifested MES during the course of SSPE. Sufficient examinations of underlying diseases including SSPE should be done at the time of the diagnosis of MES.
