Use of Interferon-α in Patients with West Nile Encephalitis: Report of 2 Cases

We describe 2 patients with West Nile virus (WNV) encephalitis who were treated experimentally with interferon (IFN)–α. Both patients demonstrated substantial improvement in mentation and speech on the second day of experimental therapy, and neither required endotracheal intubation or admission to t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical infectious diseases 2005-03, Vol.40 (5), p.764-766
Main Authors: Kalil, Andre C., Devetten, Marcel P., Singh, Sanjay, Lesiak, Brandi, Poage, David P., Bargenquast, Kim, Fayad, Pierre, Freifeld, Alison G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use
Arboviral encephalitis
Arboviroses
Biological and medical sciences
Brief Reports
Encephalitis
Female
Fever
Hospital admissions
Human viral diseases
Humans
Infections
Infectious diseases
Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use
Interferons
Male
Medical sciences
Memory disorders
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous
Mortality
Tropical viral diseases
Viral diseases
Viruses
West Nile Fever - drug therapy
West Nile virus
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Summary:We describe 2 patients with West Nile virus (WNV) encephalitis who were treated experimentally with interferon (IFN)–α. Both patients demonstrated substantial improvement in mentation and speech on the second day of experimental therapy, and neither required endotracheal intubation or admission to the intensive care unit during hospitalization. Moreover, during the 9-month follow-up period, one patient achieved complete recovery, and the other nearly achieved complete resolution of sequelae. To our knowledge, this is the first published report of the use of IFN-α to treat WNV encephalitis. Clinical trials are underway to further define the role of this therapy in persons with WNV encephalitis.
ISSN:1058-4838
1537-6591
DOI:10.1086/427945