title: Lactoferrin for prevention of neonatal sepsis.
abstract: Preterm neonates are at risk to acquire infections. In addition to the high mortality associated with sepsis, these patients are at risk for long-term disabilities, particularly neurodevelopment impairment. Several interventions have been evaluated to reduce rates of infections in neonates but have not proven efficacy. Lactoferrin (LF), a milk glycoprotein with anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti-microbial properties, has the potential to prevent infections in young children. We performed a review of current and ongoing clinical trials of LF for prevention of neonatal sepsis, and found eleven registered clinical trials that include more than 6,000 subjects. Few of these trials have finished; despite their small sample size, the preliminary results show a trend towards a positive protective effect of LF on neonatal infections. Larger trials are underway to confirm the findings of these initial studies. This information will help to define LF's role in clinical settings and, if proven effective, would profoundly affect the treatment of low birth weight neonates as a cost-effective intervention worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Alexander von Humboldt", Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Av. Honorio Delgado 430, San Martin de Porras, Lima 31, Peru.
authors.forename: Christie G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Turin
authors.forename: Alonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zea-Vera
authors.forename: Alonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pezo
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zegarra
authors.forename: Sicilia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellomo
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cam
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Llanos
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castañeda
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tucto
authors.forename: Theresa J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ochoa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007781:Lactoferrin