[Prevention and management of lung infections with thymosin alpha1 in critical patients with tracheotomy].
Huang. Deng-peng DP; Yang. Ming M; Peng. Wei-ping WP; Chen. Xiao-she XS; Chen. Zhong-qing ZQ
Key Findings
- Infection rates were lower in the thymosin group
- White blood cells, CRP, TNF‑α and IL‑6 were reduced
- Patients showed signs of better immune function
Practical Outcomes
- Thymosin‑alpha‑1 may help prevent lung infections in very high‑risk, hospitalized patients, but the study is tiny and only in a specific sick population. The protocol used was 11.6 mg subcutaneously each day for 7 days; it’s not ready for healthy or DIY use without more evidence.
Summary
A small study gave critically ill patients with a breathing tube a daily shot of thymosin‑alpha‑1 (11.6 mg) for a week and found they got fewer lung infections and had lower inflammation markers than those who got a placebo.
Abstract
To evaluate the preventive and therapeutic effect of thymosin alpha(1) on lung infections in critical patients with tracheotomy. Forty-two patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group to receive daily subcutaneous thymosin injection at 11.6 mg and saline of 2 ml for 7 days, respectively. Compared with the control group, the infection rate, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukiu-6 were significantly lower in the treatment group. Thymosin alpha(1) can be effective for prevention and treatment of lung infections in critical patients with tracheotomy and may improve the patients' immunity and prognosis.
Study Information
pubmed
2006