Effectiveness of sporobakterin probiotic in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Aim. To assess the effect of Sporobacterin probiotic for correction of bowel dysbiosis syndrome in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Methods. Bacteriological examination of stool samples from 100 patients with chronic hepatitis C was performed to detect the bowel dysbiosis syndrome. Some immunity parameters such as CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+ blood counts, serum immunoglobulin A, G and M levels, phagocytic coefficient and phagocytic index, metabolic activity of neutrophils, serum circulating immune complex levels were also examined. Viral load was assessed using a polymerase chain reaction. These measurements were repeatedly done in patients who received Sporobacterin (main group, 50 patients) and compared to results of 25 patients taking Bifidumbacterin as well as 25 patients who were not taking probiotics. Results. Bowel dysbiosis syndrome was present in 85% of patients with hepatitis C. In patients taking Sporobacterin during three months, moderate degree of dysbiosis significantly reduced from 1.88±0.15 to 0.38±0.1. Majority of patients from this group recovered intestinal microbiota - 72±6.35%, while initially only 14±4.91% of these patients had normal intestinal microbiota level. Before the treatment 38±6.86% of patients were diagnosed with III degree of bowel dysbiosis syndrome, compared to absence of such diagnoses after the treatment period. After 1 month of the treatment, number of patients with normal count of bifidobacteria in 1 g of stool was significantly higher in the group treated with Sporobacterin (50±7.07%), compared to the group treated with Bifidumbacterin (24±8.54%), as well as number of patients with marked reduction of lactobacteria in 1 g of stool (0 vs 16±7.3%). There was a marked and significant reduction of viral load in patients treated with Sporobacterin, which decreased from 8.3±3.46×106 copies/ml initially to 0.8±0.24×106 copies/ml after 1 month of treatment and to 0.094±0.022×106 copies/ml after 3 months of treatment. After 3 months of treatment the number of patients with the following conditions reduced significantly: elevated leukocyte count from 32.5±7.41 to 6.25%, decreased CD8+ count - from 42.5±7.82 to 6.25%, increased serum immunoglobulin G level - form 25±6.85 to 18.75±9.76%. Conclusions. Use of Sporobacterin for treatment of bowel dysbiosis syndrome in patients with chronic hepatitis C is highly effective and superior to treatment with Bifidumbacterin, Sporobacterin may modulate the immune response and decrease the viral load in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

chronic hepatitis C, intestinal microbiota, bacterial therapy, Sporobacterin