CHRONIC PROGRESSIVE FOCAL RASMUSSEN ENCEP HALITIS

Chronic progressive focal encephalitis or Rasmussen encephalitis (RE) is chronic brain disease of viral etiology. It is manifested by either partial motor or myoclonic seizures combined with hemiparesis. RE was described In detail In a girl of 8,5 years. The disease debute was ob served at the age of 5,5 and manifested in the form of simple partial motor fits with serial episodes or secondary generalization. Post-atta ck hemiparesis was observed from the age of 7,5 and became permanent a fter 8. From this time myoclonic fits became constant, changed for the worse, memory and attention deteriorated. MMR tomography revealed wid ening and deepening of the Sylvian fissure as well as a focal decrease of left temporal area density. The patient was resistant to anticonvu lsant, hormonal and Immunosuppressive drugs. The criteria of RE diagno sis, its difference from Kozhevnikov's epilepcy are provided. Estimati on of drug and surgical treatment effectivity is given. The necessity of early surgical treatment (functional hemisphere ectomy) is emphasiz ed.