XMRV virus linked to chronic fatigue, says study
XMRV, a virus belonging to rotavirus family, may be causing a highly incapacitating weakness commonly called chronic fatigue syndrome, says a new study.
XMRV – xenotropic murine leukemia virus- has been detected in the blood of 68 out of 101 chronic fatigue syndrome patients.While XMRV was present in only 8 of 218 healthy people, researchers reported in the journal Science.
The Science XMRV study was based on blood samples from a national repository at the Whittemore Peterson Institute collected from doctors in cities where outbreaks of chronic-fatigue syndrome occurred during the 1980s and ’90s.
XMRV was also spotted in 27% of the prostate cancer samples researchers at the University of Utah and Columbia University Medical Center examined in September. That study also showed that 6% of the benign prostate samples had XMRV.
Scientists determined that more than 95% of the patients in the study are either infected with live XMRV or are making antibodies that show their immune systems mounted an attack against XMRV and now had the virus under control.
“Just like you cannot have AIDS without HIV, I believe you won’t be able to find a case of chronic-fatigue syndrome without XMRV,” one researcher in the study Dr Mikovits said.
The link between XMRV and lymphoma is also being investigated. XMRV may be linked to other cancers in addition to prostate cancer.
XMRV has also been associated with other diseases like autism, atypical multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia.
XMRV, once infected, permanently settles in the body – a characterestic of viruses belonging to retrovirus family such as HIV, the one causing AIDS.
XMRV, however, doesn’t appear to replicate as quickly as HIV does. XMRV’s transmission route is also largely unknown to researchers.It is important to note that retroviruses, like XMRV, are not airborne. Some scientists believe that XMRV is transmitted through blood or bodily fluids.
Chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS,a rather mysterious disorder, leads to incapacitating fatigue, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic fatigue syndrome sufferers can also experience memory loss, problems with concentration, joint and muscle pain, headaches, tender lymph nodes and sore throats.
Chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms can last at least six months. Chronic fatigue syndrome is estimated to affect 17 million people worldwide.
Currently, there is no treatment available for chronic fatigue syndrome besides cognitive behavioral therapy to help patients cope with the disorder’s crippling effects.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd makes a cancer drug called Velcade that is a proteasome inhibitor. But, Takeda has never said velcade is targetting against XMRV.
Previously a number of viruses, including herpesviruses, enteroviruses and Epstein-Barr virus have been suggested as triggers for chronic fatigue syndrome. But these have only been found in a small minority of people with the disorder.
Retroviruses like XMRV have also been shown to activate a number of other latent viruses. This could explain why so many different viruses, such as Epstein-Barr virus, which was causally linked to Burkitt’s and other lymphomas in the 1970s, have been associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
XMRV link with these diseases including chronic fatigue syndromerequires to be established through much wider studies.
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5 Responses to “XMRV virus linked to chronic fatigue, says study”
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dorothy beagles said on Saturday, October 10, 2009, 4:15
How can XMRV be diagnosed?
Lester E. Miller said on Sunday, October 11, 2009, 18:25
I was diagnosed wth prostate cancer and had a radical prostatectomy about 13 years ago. I was diagnosed with N H Lymphoma and treated with chemo and radiation about seven years ago. I would be willing to testing, analysis, etc. if might be helpful for any pongitudinal study. my phone number is 229-226-0193
Jean Harrison said on Monday, October 12, 2009, 14:29
A couple of minor corrections. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, by definition, in order to be diagnosed has to last at least 6 months. It can last for years; there are still survivors of the 1955 Royal Free Hospital outbreak who are very ill.
Also Epstein Barr is such a common virus it was eliminated as a cause for CFS. It’s a virus that is pretty well ubiquitous.
XMRV is found in the blood. Testing procedures will become more readily available in the near future.
You might want to check on the Whittemore Peterson’s Website.
Pat McGinn said on Thursday, October 29, 2009, 18:11
The idea that CFS is caused by a virus is a dangerous red herring. In the first well-recorded outbreak in Akureyri, Iceland, in 1947/8, all the people who came down with CFS also tested positive for antibodies against polio which was then going the rounds in the Scandinavian countries, and yet none of the CFS sufferers got polio. CFS patients are known to be immune to viral diseases, and treating them with the same highly toxic drugs as AIDS patients, would prove to be disastrous.
Eve Avent said on Sunday, December 6, 2009, 22:54
After 6 years of treatment for depression beginning in 1990, I was finally “diagnosed” with CFS. I said ok, what is that? It’s a name that the medical community made up to get you out of their offices and perhaps sell you some very expensive antidepressants. Finally, in 2007 I found an obscure blog where an RN stated that “everyone with CFS or Fibromyalgia, if tested properly, will have Lyme disease.” This is a full 17 years after I became ill with all the hallmark symptoms of Lyme disease except the bullseye rash. I am now 55, most of my productive years have been spent sitting in my recliner, except for doctor visits. I was a type A personality before this illness stole my life. This XMRV is just another way to hopefully deflect the attention from the spreading epidemic of Lyme bacteria and it’s co-infections. I was an animal rescuer when I got ill. I did not get bitten by a normal “dog tick”. I was somehow nailed by a teeny, tiny deer tick. Now the experts that are battling with our government and IDSA and CDC to sound the alarm say that this bacterial infection MAY be spread by mosquitoes!!! Every doctor I’ve spoken to since my test came back positive for Lyme has told me (with a straight face) that Texas doesn’t have Lyme, that’s an “East Coast” disease. How do you combat that level of ignorance?