Virus Identified in 82% of ME/CFS Patients

Virus Identified in 82% of ME/CFS Patients
by Rich Carson
ImmuneSupport.com - 09-18-2007
I was delighted to see the new research suggesting a possible viral cause in a significant subset of ME/CFS patients.

The big news is that 82% of 165 patients had evidence of chronic enterovirus infection using gastric (stomach) biopsy, compared with only 20% of non-patients. The research, with its statistically significant numbers, was impressive enough to be published in the September issue of the respected Journal of Clinical Pathology.

Enteroviruses are the second most common viral infection in humans next to the common cold, and two notable enteroviruses are polio virus and Coxsackievirus. Infection usually causes asymptomatic gastric and respiratory infection, and the virus has previously been isolated from ME/CFS brain, muscle, and heart tissue.

It is too early to jump on the cause and effect bandwagon, and I am sure many of you remember earlier “breakthroughs” including EBV, CMV, retrovirus, stealth virus, spuma virus, HHV-6 and HHV-7. Nevertheless, it was determined that the virus was causing a chronic, inflammatory condition in the study participants, and it is pretty hard not to be impressed with a positive rate of 82%. Could we finally have a smoking gun?

I do not mean to suggest that the viruses above do not play at least some role in many cases of ME/CFS. In fact I am convinced that HHV-6A plays a major part in a good percentage of cases of ME/CFS. Please visit the website of the respected Human Herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) Foundation for compelling evidence - http://www.hhv-6foundation.org/

The take away? Patients will have a reason for hope if it is determined that this enterovirus is indeed a cause of ME/CFS. I find this research impressive and worthy of optimism. ProHealth will keep you informed as the research unfolds.