Long-term follow-up of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis treated with intraventricular alpha-interferon.

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.