Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Toxic effect of intraventricular interferon-alpha in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

The Italian Journal of Neurological Sciences volume 15, pages 153–155 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

Intraventricular interferon (IFN) administration has been shown to improve the course of SSPE. However, in 2 patients treated with intraventricular IFN-α-2a over a long period, we observed the appearance of clinical and EMG signs suggestive of upper and lower motor neuron pathology. These signs improved slightly in one patient after the discontinuation of IFN. It is suggested that this polypeptide may act on specific kinds of nervous cells which selectively suffer together in various well-known neurological diseases.

Sommario

La somministrazione intraventricolare di interferon (IFN) è stata vista migliorare il decorso della panencefalite sclerosante subacuta. Tuttavia, in 2 pazienti trattati con IFN-alfa-2a per un lungo periodo, noi abbiamo osservato la comparsa di segni clinici ed EMG suggestivi di una patologia del motoneurone superiore e inferiore. Tali segni migliorarono leggermente in un paziente dopo sospensione della terapia con IFN. Si suggerisce che questo polipeptide possa esercitare un'azione su uno specifico tipo di cellule nervose che selettivamente soffrono insieme in diverse ben note affezioni neurologiche.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bernsen P.L.J.A., Wong Chung R.E., Vingerhoets H.M., Janssen J.T.P.:Bilateral neuralgic amyotrophy induced by interferon treatment. Arch, Neurol., 45:449–451, 1988.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Cianchetti C., Muntoni F., Fratta A.L., Spinicci G., Marrosu G., Galantuomo S., Dolei A., Bergonzi F., Coraddu M., Marrosu M.G.:Intraventricular alpha-interferon treatment of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. In: Pant B., Prabhakar S., eds. Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis. An Update (Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on SSPE, Oct. 30–31, 1989). Vellore (India): Christian Medical College and Hospital, 203–209, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cianchetti C., Muntoni F., Fratta A.L., Marrosu M.G.:Immunological parameters in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and the effect of intraventricular interferon. In: Marrosu M.G., Cianchetti C., Tavolato B., eds. Trends in Neuroimmunology. New York: Plenum Press, 127–134, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gascon G.G., Yamani S., Cafege A., Flock L., Al-Sedairy S., Parhar S., Crowell J., Nester M., Kanaan I., Jallu M.A.:Treatment of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis with alpha interferon. Ann. Neurol., 30:227–228, 1991.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Harbord M.G., Jones T., Hicks E.P., Blumbergs P.C.:Intraventricular administration of interferon and administration of methisoprinol by mouth in the treatment of adult-onset subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Med. J. Australia, 148:467–473, 1988.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Meyers C.A., Obbens E.A.M.T., Scheibel R.S., Moser R.P.:Neurotoxicity of intraventricularly administered alpha-interferon for leptomeningeal disease. Cancer, 68:88–92, 1991.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Meyers C.A., Scheibel R.S., Forman A.D.:Persistent neurotoxicity of systemically administered interferon-alpha. Neurology, 41:672–676, 1991.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Mitchell W.G., Crawford T.O.:Intraventricular alpha 2b interferon for SSPE. Neurology, 37:1884, 1987.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Panitch H.S., Gomez-Plascencia J., Norris F.H., Cantell K., Smith R.A.:Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: remission after treatment with intraventricular interferon. Neurology, 36:562–566, 1986.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Risk W.S., Haddad F.S.:The variable natural history of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. A study of 118 cases from the Middle East. Arch. Neurol., 36:610–614, 1979.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Smedley H. Katrak M., Sikora K., Wheeler T.:Neurological effects of recombinant human interferon. Brit. Med. J., 286:262–264, 1983.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Steiner I., Wirgiun I., Morag A., Abramsky O.:Intraventricular alpha interferon for subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. J. Child. Neurol., 4:20–23, 1989.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Vesikari T., Nuutila A., Cantell K.:Neurologic sequelae following interferon therapy of juvenile laryngeal papilloma. Acta Paediatr. Scand., 77:619–622, 1988.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Yalaz K., Anlar B., Oktem F., Aysun S., Ustacelebi S., Gurcay O., Gucuyener K., Renda Y:Intraventricular interferon and oral inosiplex in the treatment of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Neurology, 42:488–491, 1992.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinica di Neuropsichiatria Infantile, Università di Cagliari, Via Ospedale 119, 09124, Cagliari

    Cianchetti C., Fratta A. L., Muntoni F., Marrosu G. & Marrosu M. G.

Authors
  1. Cianchetti C.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fratta A. L.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Muntoni F.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marrosu G.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Marrosu M. G.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cianchetti, C., Fratta, A.L., Muntoni, F. et al. Toxic effect of intraventricular interferon-alpha in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Ital J Neuro Sci 15, 153–155 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02339207

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02339207

Key Words

search

Navigation