Oral lactoferrin for the treatment of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates

Pammi M, Abrams SA

Published Online:

October 5, 2011

Newborn babies, especially those born prematurely, are at risk from infections in the blood (sepsis) and/or gastrointestinal inflammation and injury (necrotizing enterocolitis). A number of babies with sepsis or necrotizing enterocolitis die or suffer from long-term brain and lung damage in spite of treatment with antibiotics. Lactoferrin, a substance normally present in human milk, may be effective against infections and gastrointestinal injury. This review searched for studies that used lactoferrin to treat babies with infection or gastrointestinal injury and found none. In view of the potential usefulness of lactoferrin, we recommend that well designed studies be done in the future to address this issue.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Neonatal sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) cause significant neonatal mortality and morbidity in spite of appropriate antibiotic therapy. Enhancing host defence and modulating inflammation by using lactoferrin as an adjunct to antibiotics in the treatment of sepsis and/or NEC may improve clinical outcomes.

Objectives:

The primary objective is to assess safety and efficacy of oral lactoferrin as an adjunct to antibiotics in the treatment of neonates with suspected or confirmed sepsis and/or NEC.

Search strategy:

Relevant trials in any language were searched in July 2011 in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE, PREMEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, web sites: www.clinicaltrials.gov and www.controlled-trials.com, abstracts from the annual meeting of Pediatric Academic Societies (1990 to July 2011), by contacting authors who have published in this field, from the reference lists of identified clinical trials and in the reviewer's personal files.

Selection criteria:

Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials evaluating oral lactoferrin (at any dose or duration) used as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy compared with antibiotic therapy alone (with or without placebo) or other adjuncts to antibiotic therapy to treat neonates at any gestational age up to 44 weeks postmenstrual age with confirmed or suspected sepsis or necrotizing enterocolitis (Bell's Stage II or III).

Data collection and analysis:

We used the standardized methods of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group (CNRG) for conducting a systematic review and for assessing the methodological quality of the studies (http://neonatal.cochrane.org/en/index.html). The titles and the abstracts of studies identified by the search strategy were independently assessed by the two review authors and full text version was obtained for assessment if necessary. Forms were designed for trial inclusion/exclusion and data extraction.

Main results:

We did not identify any eligible neonatal trial evaluating lactoferrin for treatment of neonatal sepsis or NEC.

Authors' conclusions:

Implications for practice: Currently there is no evidence to recommend or refute the use of lactoferrin for the treatment of neonatal sepsis or necrotizing enterocolitis as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy.

Implications for research: The safety and efficacy of different preparations and doses of lactoferrin need to be established in neonates. Well designed adequately powered randomized multicenter trials are needed to address the efficacy and safety of lactoferrin in the treatment of neonatal sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis. These trials should evaluate long-term neurodevelopmental and pulmonary outcomes in addition to short-term outcomes.

This record should be cited as:

Pammi M, Abrams SA. Oral lactoferrin for the treatment of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 10. Art. No.: CD007138. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007138.pub3

Assessed as up to date:

July 8, 2011

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Primary Review Group:

Neonatal Group

Health topics:

Infectious disease > Neonatal infections > Nosocomial sepsis

Neonatal care > Neonatal infections > Nosocomial sepsis

Complementary & alternative medicine > Infectious disease > Neonatal infections

Complementary & alternative medicine > Neonatal care > Neonatal infections

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Oral lactoferrin for the treatment of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates

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