I think there is great potential in LTCI in certain situations. The basic mechanism behind it is to stimulate the immune system to kill the virus and keep it in check. One of it's modes of action is to increase levels of interferon. This is actually what we are trying to do when give interferon directly. The difference is that with LTCI your cat will make their own interferon. When we give it exogenously (basically from a source outside their body) they recognize it as foreign and try to destroy it. We try to overcome this, but giving the interferon for a few days and then stopping it for a few days and then starting again. Not so with LTCI. Causing their body to make their own interferon is more effective.
It seems to me, (and I do not have a study specifically to support this, but it is logical and in keeping with what is known about the virus) that if you can give LTCI to a fairly newly infected cat or kitten (younger cats and kittens especially since their immune system is immature and less able to fight the virus) you will likely be able to improve the outcome for your cat. Once they have become symptomatic, however, you are less likely to be able to reverse it and improve their health on LTCI. Having said that, however, there have been cases of improvement after onset of symptoms. I would not dismiss this treatment option. In fact, I would use it in conjunction with a great diet, standard process immune, and vitamin supplementation (Vitamin A, C, E and D). Jenny On 5/4/10, Sara Kasteleyn <skastel...@cicresearch.com> wrote: > > We have been using LTCI on our two young cats since October of last year. > They have just had their first birthdays and are asymptomatic. I should > also share they have always been asymptomatic....this is not something that > has come about since using LTCI. Be careful about thinking of LTCI as a > "cure", and rather think of it more as a "treatment aid", which is how the > manufacturers refer to it. Our vet is able to acquire the injections for > about $60 a dose, and she sells it to us for this amount. We give the > injections ourselves. We started with one dose a week for three weeks, > then > weren't able to acquire it for three weeks. We started all over at one > dose > a week for four consecutive weeks, then once every other week, once every > three weeks, and now once a month. I hesitate to say they are doing well, > as I don't want to invite trouble.....but they are. > > Hope this is of some help to you, Sara > > > -----Original Message----- > From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org > [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of > ladydi...@frontiernet.net > Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 8:38 AM > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Subject: [Felvtalk] Is this a real legit cure for feline leukemia? > > I would be interested in knowing what the average cost of the LTCI > treatment > is. We have two FeLV cats. One, of which, is running of treatment options. > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > __________ NOD32 5085 (20100504) Information __________ > > This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. > http://www.eset.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
