Viscum album (Iscador®) Treatment of lmmunocompromised Children after the Chernobyl Accident. Clinical and lmmunological lnvestigations

Author(s): Chernyshov, V., Omelchenko, L., Slukvin, I., Pochinok, T., Antipkin, J., Voichenko, I., Heusser, P., Schniedermann, G.

Abstract: Objective: To determine the clinical and immunostimulating efficacy of complete Viscum album extract (Iscador@) in immunocompromised children with recurrent respiratory infections. Design: Uncontrolled prospective 15-month observation study.Setting: Ambulatory treatment in the Ukrainian Institute of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kiev, starting March 1991.Patients: 25 children, aged between 3 and 15 years, from the 30-km Chernobyl zone with recurrent respiratory infections 5 to 12 times/year and one or more of the following immunological findings: CD 3+ lymphocytes below 50 %, phagocytosis below 60 %, NK cells below 10 CD 8+ lymphocytes above 28 %.Intervention: Twice a week s.c. injections of Iscador@ type M during 5 weeks in doses rising weekly (from 2 x 0.001 mg complete Viscum extract to 2 x 5 mg, final dosis with known content of mistletoe lectin activity). 4 children received a 2nd treatment course.Assessment: Documentation of the frequency of infections, subjective symptoms, and clinical examination findings before and directly after treatment, and after 3-4 and 15 months. Determination of lymphocyte subpopulations, phagocytosis, immunoglobulins and serum complement factors before and after the treatment and after 3-4 months.Results: 19 of 25 children completed the study. A considerable reduction in incidence of respiratory infections was noted in 14 of 19 children. Before the treatment in the 25 children frequency of infections was above 6/year in 24 children. During the 15 months of observation in the group of 19 children 4 children had no infections. Improvement of general well-being and appetite, reduction of fatigue and pains were noted. A significant increase of levels of T lymphocytes (CD 3+), phagocytosis, IgM, IgA, sIgA in the saliva and complement factor C4 was observed after the therapy and after 3-4 months.Conclusion: The Iscador® therapy proved to be clinically and immunologically effective and well tolerated in immunocompromised children with recurrent respiratory infections due to the Chernobyl accident.

Keyword(s): Viscum-album-Therapie

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