Administration of human leukocyte interferon to patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

Between 1979 and 1982, fifteen patients with SSPE were treated with human leukocyte interferon (HuIFN-alpha). They were administered interferon (IFN) in doses ranging from 25 x 10(6) IU to 126 x 10(6) IU by various routes in regimens that ranged for 20 days to 14 months. In 3 of the 5 cases with rapid deterioration, HuIFN-alpha did not alter the course of the disease; however, 6 cases with mild progression showed various degrees of clinical improvement during the IFN therapy. In 3 of the 4 cases in remission, HuIFN-alpha caused no significant changes in clinical courses. No severe adverse reactions were seen during IFN administration. These results suggest that HuIFN-alpha has a potentially beneficial effect on the course of SSPE.