In recent years, changing epidemiological features and atypical clinical features in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis have been reported. We studied clinical, epidemiological, electrophysiological and neuroradiological features of 16 patients, with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis retrospectively. Age of onset and latent period have decreased in recent years. Periodic attacks were common initial symptoms in most of the patients, followed by ataxia, and speech and behavioral changes. Neuroimaging studies were normal in 68% of cases. The others had retrotrigonal white matter dysmyelinization. No correlation was found between clinical and neuroimaging features. Seventy-five percent of the patients had had active measles infection despite of vaccination. This may be related to primary and secondary failure vaccination or to changing immune responses of host.

Keywords: subakut sklerozan panensefalit, epidemiyoloji, kızamık aşılaması