title: Oral lactoferrin in HIV-1 vertically infected children: an observational follow-up of plasma viral load and immune parameters.
abstract: Lactoferrin (LF) is a mammalian iron-binding glycoprotein with antiviral effects. This preliminary study evaluated 6 months' LF (3 g/day, orally) treatment in 22 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vertically infected children. Plasma viral load and CD4+ cell counts were assessed every 3 months; before, during and after LF administration. No significant changes were observed during the pre-treatment period. By 6 months, mean (+/- SD) plasma viral load (log10) declined from 4.54 (+/- 0.65) to 4.28 (+/- 0.60); median percentage CD4+ cell count increased from 21.5% to 24.5%. Two months after treatment discontinuation, mean plasma viral load did not differ significantly from baseline or month 6 levels, but the percentage CD4+ cell count remained significantly higher than the baseline value. LF plus antiretroviral (ARV) therapy was more effective at increasing CD4+ cell count than LF alone. None of the patients showed any new HIV-1-related symptoms at follow-up. LF might be a useful addition to ARV therapy, but further large-scale studies are required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Milan, 'L. Sacco' Hospital, Milan, Italy. gianvincenzo.zuccotti@unimi.it
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Zuccotti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salvini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agostoni
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral; D007781:Lactoferrin