Various inflammatory diseases of central nervous system, including
subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, could cause
epilepsia partialis continua. Two boys with
epilepsia partialis continua with onset in terminal phase of atypical
subacute sclerosing panencephalitis have been reported. Children were not vaccinated against
measles, and the second case had history of
measles at an early age. In both cases, the onset of
subacute sclerosing panencephalitis was characterized by altered behavior and
cognitive decline with very fast mental and neurological deterioration. One boy was suffering from
complex partial seizures and
myoclonic jerks synchronous with periodic electroencephalographic pattern. Diagnosis was proved by increased titers of antimeasles
antibodies in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid. In terminal phase of the disease,
epilepsia partialis continua of localized group of the muscles was diagnosed, with good response to
intravenous infusion of
midazolam. Surface electroencephalographic recordings during
epilepsia partialis continua did not show the epileptic discharges. During the terminal phase of the disease, no other type of
seizures and
movement disorders were recognized, except
epilepsia partialis continua. In spite of the treatment, period from the onset of disease to death lasted less than 3 months, suggesting very fulminant course of
subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.