TREATMENT DATABASE

Transfer factor, an extract from peripheral blood lymphocytes (white blood cells) of a healthy donor, facilitates the transfer of T cell-mediated immunity from one person to another.

Transfer factor has been used for more than 40 years to transfer immunity from a presumably healthy donor to a recipient. It has been used to treat viral, parasitic, and bacterial infections. Distinctive types of transfer factor may be used, depending on the condition being treated. Nonspecific transfer factor from a pool of healthy donors may be used for immune system modulation. Disease-specific transfer factor is used to treat a specific virus or infection, such as herpesviruses or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In addition, donor-specific or dedicated donor transfer factor can be obtained from a relative or other household member.

USES IN ME/CFS: Transfer factor, at least in theory, would appear to be valuable as a primary therapy in CFS/ME. Because the cause of ME/CFS is still undetermined, it has been difficult to find a universally effective treatment. Transfer factor is considered adaptogenic; that is, it can boost a deficient immune system or, conversely, can down regulate the immune system in certain autoimmune conditions. This makes it an ideal immunomodulator in ME/CFS. However, as the following data reveal, reports of the efficacy of transfer factor have been inconclusive.

• At the May 1994 CFIDS conference in Dublin, Ireland, information was presented regarding a study of 20 patients with ME/CFS treated with oral transfer factor by Dr. Giancarlo Pizza and colleagues from Bologna, Italy. Of the 20 patients, improvement was noted in 12 and remission was observed in two. There were no significant side effects. This oral form of transfer factor was specific for Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6, and herpes simplex virus.

• Dr. Perry Orens of Great Neck, New York, reported a positive experience with transfer factor (CFIDS Chronicle, Fall 1993). With Dr. Hugh Fudenberg, a leading international expert on transfer factor, Dr. Orens used injectable, donor-specific transfer factor to treat symptoms of ME/CFS in nine patients. The results were complete remission in two patients, marked improvement in two, partial improvement in two, and no improvement in three.

• In 1991 Dr. Denis Wakefield of Australia reported the results of an extensive double-blind study of transfer factor. Of 90 patients with ME/CFS, 46 received the transfer factor and 44 received a placebo. Twenty-five patients received specific transfer factor donated by a family member and 21 received transfer factor from an unrelated donor (a healthy control). Follow-up three months later showed no difference in quality of life, immunological assessment, or activity levels. It was concluded that neither specific nor nonspecific transfer factor were of benefit. It is important to note that the treatment consisted of only eight injections, given over the course of a month. It is possible that the short duration of treatment affected the outcome.

• At the 2003 AACFS Conference held in Chantilly, Virginia, Dr. Brewer presented the results of a study in which 28 CFS patients were given a transfer factor (TF) preparation derived from bovine colostrum that has activity against HHV-6. Ten ME/CFS patients (controls) received a similar TF preparation derived from bovine colostrum, except that it was devoid of any specific activity for HHV-6. Following the administration of the HHV-6 transfer factor preparation, improvements were noted in symptom scores in 68% and NK function in 75% of patients studied, as compared to 0% for both symptom score and NK function in the control group taking the TF preparation without HHV-6.

Treatment rating for Transfer Factor