TREATMENT OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN INFANTS IN RURAL BANGLADESH WITH ORAL IMMUNOGLOBULINS FROM HYPERIMMUNE BOVINE COLOSTRUM

Background: Antibodies from hyperimmune bovine colostrum have been sho wn to be effective in treatment against a variety of microorganisms, i ncluding Helicobacter pylori in adults. Aim: To test this form of trea tment in a small group of H. pylori infected children in a periurban c ommunity in Bangladesh. Methods: Twenty-four infants, 4-29 months old (mean age 16.5 +/- 7.7 months) and infected with H, pylori, were treat ed with purified immunoglobulins from hyperimmune bovine colostrum for 1 month, in a placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot study, Diagnosis was established with C-13-urea breath test (UBT) before and after the treatment period and at a 1-month follow-up, Results: None of the hyp erimmune bovine colostrum-treated children became UBT negative. Five c hildren initially positive in the UBT screening spontaneously became n egative by the start of the study with hyperimmune bovine colostrum/pl acebo. At the end of the 1-month study period, three had became positi ve again, Conclusion: Hyperimmune bovine colostrum does not eradicate H, pylori infection in infants. Transient H, pylori infection is commo n among infants in high endemic areas, as is reinfection after clearan ce. This presents obstacles to evaluation of therapeutic investigation s in young children in areas where H. pylori is prevalent.