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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Immunofluorescence to Monitor the Cellular Uptake of Human Lactoferrin and its Associated Antiviral Activity Against the Hepatitis C Virus
Published on: October 1, 2015
Effect of lactoferrin in patients with chronic hepatitis C: combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin
Masahiko Kaito1, Motoh Iwasa, Naoki Fujita
1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Division of Clinical Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Medical Science, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan.
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.
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