Original Article Use of a Brief Assessment Examination in a Study of Subacute

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a degenerative disease affecting children and young adults that remains a dis-tinct and relatively frequent problem in developing countries worldwide. Recent advances in treatment prompted a study at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, using oral isoprinosine and intraventricular α-interferon. Initially, the Neurological Disability Assessment and Index was used for tracking patient progress. However, an addi-tional means of assessment was deemed necessary and the Brief Assessment Examination was devised. Largely cogni-tive based, the Brief Assessment Examination appeared to be more sensitive to mental status changes than the Neuro-logical Disability Assessment and Index, though it correlated modestly with the Neurologic Disability Assessment and Index and more strongly with staging. In addition, the Brief Assessment Examination can be administered by techni-cian-level staff with a minimum of training. Though more study is needed, preliminary findings suggest that the Brief Assessment Examination should be a useful tracking tool for subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, particularly in the developing world. (J Child Neurol 1996;11:173-180). Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis is a rare inflamma-tory and degenerative brain disease encountered as a late sequela of measles infection. It usually affects childre