Lessons from a pilot study of transfer factor in chronic fatigue syndrome.
Transfer Factor (TF) was used in a placebo controlled pilot study of 20 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Efficacy of the treatment was evaluated by clinical monitoring and testing for antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6). Of the 20 patients in the placebo-controlled trial, improvement was observed in 12 patients, generally within 3-6 weeks of beginning treatment. Herpes virus serology seldom correlated with clinical response. This study provided experience with oral TF, useful in designing a larger placebo-controlled clinical trial.
De Vinci
C
C
Immunodiagnosis and Immunotherapy Unit, 1st Division of Urology Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
Levine
P H
PH
Pizza
G
G
Fudenberg
H H
HH
Orens
P
P
Pearson
G
G
Viza
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010919:Placebos; D014165:Transfer Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D010919:Placebos; D014165:Transfer Factor