Virus linked to chronic fatigue syndrome

By Rachel Stockton

Patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have been vindicated:  a new study shows that the majority of those suffering from the illness have a particular virus, according to the journal Science.

The virus is actually a retrovirus and is a member of the same family as the AIDS virus.  Retroviruses imbed themselves in a patient’s genetic material and stay there for life.  The virus, xenotripic marine leukemia virus related virus (SMRV) was found in 67% of those who had chronic fatigue syndrome, and in only 3% of a control group of healthy research participants.

People with chronic fatigue syndrome have often been suspected of being hypochondriacs or of having other psychological problems that manifest themselves as psychosomatic illnesses.  Doctors have been just as frustrated with the syndrome because they have been unable to help their patients feel better.

Researchers are careful at this point to say that the XMRV may not actually cause chronic fatigue syndrome; for now they are merely reporting an association between the virus and the illness.  However, Dr. Judy A. MIkovits  (research director at Whittemore Peterson Institute in Reno and lead author of the study) and her colleagues are planning to try antiretroviral drugs on those diagnosed with the illness.  If these drugs help, Dr. Mikovits maintains that the assumption will be that the virus actually causes the syndrome, something she suspects is highly probable.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms

The predominant symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome is extreme fatigue.  In order to be classified as CFS, the feeling of tiredness must be debilitating; a patient’s ability to participate in ordinary activities must be curtailed by 50%.  The condition also must have lasted at least 6 months, with fatigue not being relieved by sleep.   According to the New York Times Health Guide, other symptoms include:

* Fatigue lasting more than 24 hours after an amount of exercise that would normally be easily tolerated

* Feeling unrefreshed after sleeping an adequate amount of time

* Forgetfulness or other similar symptoms including difficulty concentrating, confusion, or irritability

* Headaches, different from previous headaches in quality, severity, or pattern

* Joint pain

* Lymph node tenderness in the neck or armpit

* Mild fever (101 degrees F or less)

* Muscle aches

* Sore throat