Intrathecal interferon in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
Five patients with clinically advanced subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) were given human leukocyte interferon (IFN) by the lumbar route, 1 million IU every other day for a total of 30 days. Intrathecal IFN produced a meningeal inflammatory reaction in all patients and was associated with transient hemiparesis in 1. It persisted in the cerebrospinal fluid at measurable levels for 48 hours after a single injection. Although improvement was temporally related to intrathecal IFN in 1 patient, it is not clear whether this was induced by IFN or a spontaneous remission. A randomized controlled trial would be necessary to evaluate IFN critically as a therapy for SSPE.
P R
PR
Huttenlocher
D L
DL
Picchietti
R P
RP
Roos
N R
NR
Cashman
B
B
Horowitz
M S
MS
Horowitz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008459:Measles virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis
D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D007372:Interferons