[Early changes in the visual system in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis].

This paper presents our observations of changes in the visual system in the early period of SSPE in the group of 23 children at the age of 3 to 17 years (18 boys and 5 girls). The most frequent changes were papillary stasis (9 patients). Decreased visual acuity with no changes in the optic fundus or with chorioretinitis and simple atrophy of the optic nerve were observed in 8 children. Convergent squint, visual hallucinations and visual agnosia were additional symptoms in single cases. Changes in the visual system which appeared in early period of the disease as single clinical symptom usually create serious diagnostic problems. The greatest problem appeared when papillary stasis coexisted with other symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. Neuroradiological examinations were decisive in these cases. Diagnosis of SSPE was confirmed by further course of the disease and others additional and typical results.