title: Long-term follow-up of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis treated with intraventricular alpha-interferon.
abstract: We treated 22 patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) with intraventricular alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) and oral inosiplex between 1986 and 1991. The follow-up for 56 to 108 months demonstrates a higher survival rate in these patients compared with those who did not receive alpha-IFN. However, eight of 11 patients whose condition improved after alpha-IFN treatment and five of five patients whose condition stabilized after alpha-IFN experienced neurologic deterioration 6 to 90 months after treatment; three of 11 and four of five died. The use of inosiplex did not influence the prognosis. Re-administration of the same regimen was not effective in one patient. Treatment-induced remissions in SSPE can be temporary, analogous to spontaneous remissions. Longer treatment with higher doses, or combinations of drugs, may be required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Anlar
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yalaz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oktem
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Köse
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007542:Inosine Pranobex / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007542:Inosine Pranobex