Long-term follow-up of a patient with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis successfully treated with intrathecal interferon alpha.

Abstract

To clarify long-term effects of intrathecal administration of interferon (IFN)-alpha in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), we followed up a patient with SSPE for 18 years, who had been treated successfully using intrathecal IFN-alpha with response-based dose adjustments. IFN-alpha therapy dramatically induced remission of disease and greatly improved quality of life for 7-8 years, but this was followed by severely deterioration with decorticate posturing and akinetic mutism. Thus, IFN-alpha-induced remission appears most likely to be temporary, even when an SSPE patient shows an excellent initial response. To improve long-term outcome for SSPE patients, more effective therapy is needed.

• Authors: Masahito Miyazaki, Mio Nishimura, Yoshihiro Toda, Takahiko Saijo, Kenji Mori, Yasuhiro Kuroda
• Journal: Brain & development (Brain Dev) Vol. 27 Issue 4 Pg. 301-3 (Jun 2005) ISSN: 0387-7604 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 15862195 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Immunologic Factors
• Interferon-alpha

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Brain (pathology)
• Child
• Disease Progression
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Immunologic Factors (administration & dosage)
• Injections, Spinal
• Interferon-alpha (administration & dosage)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (drug therapy)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed