title: Effect of lactoferrin in patients with chronic hepatitis C: combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lactoferrin has been reported to inhibit hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in cultured human hepatocytes and HCV viremia in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of combined triple therapy of lactoferrin, interferon and ribavirin in patients with CHC.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 111 Japanese patients with CHC were randomly assigned to a lactoferrin group (n = 50) and a control group (n = 61). The lactoferrin group was treated with lactoferrin for 8 weeks and then with lactoferrin, interferon and ribavirin for 24 weeks; the control group was treated with interferon and ribavirin for 24 weeks. Serum anti-lactoferrin antibody, clinical and laboratory measurement were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean HCV RNA titer significantly decreased at the end of lactoferrin monotherapy. Sustained virological response to therapy was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the lactoferrin responder group (55%) than in the control group (18%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that the decrease in HCV RNA titer by lactoferrin monotherapy contributes to the effectiveness of the combined therapy of interferon and ribavirin in patients with CHC. Lactoferrin is a potential useful adjunct treatment for patients with CHC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Division of Clinical Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Medical Science, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaito
authors.forename: Motoh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwasa
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Yoshinao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ikoma
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Imoto
authors.forename: Yukihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamano
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014766:Viremia / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin; D007781:Lactoferrin