TF for Viral Infections

Guidelines for immunotherapy of antigen-specific defects with transfer factor.
Author
Wilson GB; Fudenberg HH; Keller RH
Address
Source
J Clin Lab Immunol, 1984 Feb, 13:2, 51-8
Abstract
Dialyzable leukocyte extracts (DLE) containing transfer factor (TF) with documented specificity for one or more microbial antigens have shown previously variable clinical effectiveness in treating many infectious diseases caused by viruses, fungi, protozoa and mycobacteria. The efficacy has sometimes been strong, and at other times dubious, in treating patients with inherited or presumably "acquired" immunodeficiency diseases refractory to standard therapy. The recent development of assays for screening leukocyte donors of DLE, for monitoring recipients, and especially for determining the potency of various DLE preparations containing antigen-specific TF and for predicting the clinical course of disease have, in our hands, greatly improved the likelihood of successful immunotherapy with TF. Two representative cases are reported, one involving a patient with an antigen selective defect to Candida, and another involving a patient with an antigen selective defect to Mycobacterium fortuitum. Both patients responded as judged by laboratory tests and clinical improvement when treated with certain DLE preparations but not with others. Finally, certain DLE preparations appeared to suppress cell-mediated immunity in vivo and this suppression could be predicted by in vitro tests. Based on these results, guidelines for optimal therapy with DLE are proffered.

Treatment of varicella-zoster pneumonia with transfer factor.
Author
Winkelmann RK; DeRemee RA; Ritts RE Jr
Address
Source
Cutis, 1984 Sep, 34:3, 278-81
Abstract
A 29-year-old woman with a long history of immunoreactive disease--thrombocytopenic purpura, bullous pemphigoid, nephropathy, and hemolytic anemia--contracted generalized herpes zoster and varicella pneumonia. Respiratory failure requiring assisted respiration accompanied progressive chest findings. She recovered rapidly simultaneous with the administration of transfer factor from a healing herpes zoster patient. We believe that this therapy should be attempted in similar desperate circumstances.

Title
Symposium on infectious complications of neoplastic disease (Part II).

Immunoprophylaxis of varicella-zoster infections.
Author
Gershon AA
Address
Source
Am J Med, 1984 Apr, 76:4, 672-7
Abstract
Because it is possible to identify groups of persons with a high risk of varicella development and also because it is possible to anticipate when an attack may occur, immunoprophylaxis for varicella has met with great success. In contrast, the nature of zoster--its unpredictability and low attack rate--makes immunoprophylaxis much more difficult to implement. Varicella may be modified by administration of varicella-zoster immune globulin within three days of a known exposure to the virus. Although interferon has not yet been used in an attempt to prevent or modify varicella in humans, it has been used successfully to abort an outbreak of simian varicella in a monkey colony. Thus it might be clinically useful, particularly for those who cannot be given varicella-zoster immune globulin within three days of exposure. Transfer factor has also been shown to induce at least partial immunity to varicella in children with leukemia. The duration of this protection is unknown, and further study of the efficacy of transfer factor against both varicella and possibly even against zoster seems warranted. Live attenuated varicella vaccine, although still experimental, seems now to be the most practical way to prevent severe varicella in high-risk persons. The vaccine is safe and immunogenic, even in children with underlying leukemia who are still receiving chemotherapy. Studies in Japan, Europe, and the United States have shown that most vaccinated leukemic children who are exposed are protected against severe disease, although mild breakthrough cases have been reported. Varicella vaccine's potential to cause zoster remains under study.