Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis other diagnostic studies

EEG
Characteristic periodic activity is seen on EEG (this activity showing widespread cortical dysfunction); pathologically, the white matter of both the hemispheres and brainstem are affected, as well as the cerebral cortex, and eosinophilic inclusion bodies are present in the cytoplasm nuclei of neurons and glial cells.

CSF
Diagnosis of SSPE is often difficult due to a normal CSF profile — noted changes in the CSF profile only include a marked elevation in CSF immunoglobulin.