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Stomach virus 'could trigger ME' | |
(about 16 hours later) | |
US researchers have produced compelling evidence linking chronic fatigue syndrome to a stomach virus. | US researchers have produced compelling evidence linking chronic fatigue syndrome to a stomach virus. |
The researchers examined 165 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome - also known as ME (myalgic encephalitis) - and long-standing gut complaints. | |
More than 80% of samples were infected with an enterovirus, compared with just seven of 34 samples taken from healthy volunteers. | More than 80% of samples were infected with an enterovirus, compared with just seven of 34 samples taken from healthy volunteers. |
The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Pathology. | The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Pathology. |
The findings raise the question of whether antiviral drug therapy would be beneficial Dr Charles ShepherdM.E. Association | The findings raise the question of whether antiviral drug therapy would be beneficial Dr Charles ShepherdM.E. Association |
The finding may help explain why many patients with M.E. often have intermittent or persistent gut problems, including indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome. | The finding may help explain why many patients with M.E. often have intermittent or persistent gut problems, including indigestion and irritable bowel syndrome. |
Viral infections, such as Epstein Barr virus (glandular fever), cytomegalovirus, and parvovirus, are also known to produce many of the symptoms associated ME. | |
Enteroviruses, which infect the bowel, cause severe but short lasting respiratory and gut infections. | Enteroviruses, which infect the bowel, cause severe but short lasting respiratory and gut infections. |
There are more than 70 different types, and they head for the central nervous system, heart and muscles. | There are more than 70 different types, and they head for the central nervous system, heart and muscles. |
The researchers found that in a significant proportion of patients the initial enteroviral infection had occurred many years earlier. | The researchers found that in a significant proportion of patients the initial enteroviral infection had occurred many years earlier. |
Drug possibility | Drug possibility |
They said: "Although finding a chronic infection of the stomach may not directly prove a similar infection in the brain, muscle or heart, it opens up a new direction in the research for this elusive disease." | They said: "Although finding a chronic infection of the stomach may not directly prove a similar infection in the brain, muscle or heart, it opens up a new direction in the research for this elusive disease." |
Dr Charles Shepherd, medical adviser to the ME Association, said the study would re-open the debate into whether persistent viral infection plays a role in the condition. | |
He said: "We know from previous research that enteroviruses, the group of viruses being investigated in this study, can trigger ME/CFS in some people. | He said: "We know from previous research that enteroviruses, the group of viruses being investigated in this study, can trigger ME/CFS in some people. |
"There is also some evidence that enteroviral infection can then persist in various parts of the body including muscle and brain - a finding that could help to explain why muscle and brain symptoms are so characteristic of the illness. | "There is also some evidence that enteroviral infection can then persist in various parts of the body including muscle and brain - a finding that could help to explain why muscle and brain symptoms are so characteristic of the illness. |
"The new clearly adds weight to this theory. The findings also raise the question of whether antiviral drug therapy would be beneficial in this particular sub-group of ME/CFS patients." | "The new clearly adds weight to this theory. The findings also raise the question of whether antiviral drug therapy would be beneficial in this particular sub-group of ME/CFS patients." |
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