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Hiroshi Yoshioka, MD; Kikuko Kazuta, MD; Yasuo Kasubuchi, MD; Tadashi Sawada, MD; Tomoichi Kusunoki, MD
Department of Pediatrics Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Kawaramachi Kamikyo-Ku Kyoto 602, Japan

Arch Neurol. 1980;37(12):786-787.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

>To the Editor.—

Houff et al reported the occurrence of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in only one of a pair of identical twins (ARCHIVES 1979;36:854-856). A similar case has, to our knowledge, been reported only once, by D'Onghia et al.¹ Twin studies are most useful in the study of pathogenetic factors of diseases when only one member of identical twins is affected and the unaffected twin can be used as a control. For the pathogenesis of SSPE, Burnet² postulated a specific nonresponsiveness of the thymus-dependent immune system. Houff et al and D'Onghia et al, however, found no distinctive immunological differences between the affected and the unaffected twins. We studied another pair of identical twins in whom one member was affected by SSPE. We found a difference in the response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) skin test between the patient and his twin.

Report of a Case.—

A 6-year-old boy was . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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