Use of transfer factor for the treatment of recurrent non-bacterial female cystitis (NBRC): a preliminary report

Results of conventional treatment of female non-bacterial recurrent cystitis (NBRC) are discouraging. Most patients show an unexpected high incidence of vaginal candidiasis, while their cell mediated immunity to Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) and Candida antigens seems impaired, and it is known that t...

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Published inBiotherapy (Dordrecht) Vol. 9; no. 1-3; p. 133
Main Authors De Vinci, C, Pizza, G, Cuzzocrea, D, Menniti, D, Aiello, E, Maver, P, Corrado, G, Romagnoli, P, Dragoni, E, LoConte, G, Riolo, U, Masi, M, Severini, G, Fornarola, V, Viza, D
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Netherlands 01.01.1996
Subjects
Adult
Aged
Candida albicans - immunology
Cystitis - immunology
Cystitis - therapy
Cytomegalovirus - immunology
Female
Herpes Genitalis - blood
Herpes Simplex - blood
Herpesvirus 1, Human - immunology
Herpesvirus 2, Human - immunology
Humans
Immunity, Cellular - drug effects
Immunity, Cellular - immunology
Middle Aged
Sensitivity and Specificity
Transfer Factor - immunology
Transfer Factor - therapeutic use
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Summary:Results of conventional treatment of female non-bacterial recurrent cystitis (NBRC) are discouraging. Most patients show an unexpected high incidence of vaginal candidiasis, while their cell mediated immunity to Herpes simplex viruses (HSV) and Candida antigens seems impaired, and it is known that the persistence of mucocutaneous chronic candidiasis is mainly due to a selective defect of CMI to Candida antigens. Twenty nine women suffering of NBRC, and in whom previous treatment with antibiotics and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs was unsuccessful, underwent oral transfer factor (TF) therapy. TF specific to Candida and/or to HSV was administered bi-weekly for the first 2 weeks, and then once a week for the following 6 months. No side effects were observed during treatment. The total observation period of our cohort was 24379 days with 353 episodes of cystitis recorded and a cumulative relapse index (RI) of 43. The observation period during and after treatment was 13920 days with 108 relapses and a cumulative RI of 23 (P < 0.0001). It, thus, seems that specific TF may be capable of controlling NBRC and alleviate the symptoms.
ISSN:0921-299X
DOI:10.1007/BF02628670