Effect of lactoferrin in patients with chronic hepatitis C: combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin

OBJECTIVES: 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.