Post by Lady~RavenHeart on Aug 28, 2005 14:56:24 GMT 2
Prof. Garth L. Nicolson
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Other Fatigue Conditions
Chronic fatigue is reported by 20% of all patients seeking medical care and is considered as a nonspecific sign that is associated with many well known medical conditions. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), and Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) patients suffer from complex overlapping signs and symptoms. (see 'Signs/Symptoms' Questions, above) CFS is primarily characterized by persisting or relapsing fatigue without previous history of comparable symptoms that does not resolve with rest. In these patients other clinical conditions are absent that can explain the signs and symptoms such as malignancies or autoimmune diseases. In contrast, FMS patients have overall muscle pain, tenderness, and weakness as primary complaints, but they have most if not all of the commonly found signs and symptoms for CFS. We previously proposed that CFS/ME patients might be suffering from chronic infections that can cause, in part, their complex signs and symptoms. For example, systemic mycoplasmal infections can cause chronic fatigue, muscle pain and a variety of additional signs and symptoms, some of which are related to dysfunctional immune responses and in extreme cases autoimmune-like disorders. Some mycoplasmas can invade virtually every human tissue and can compromise the immune system, permitting opportunistic infections by other bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeast. When mycoplasmas exit certain cells, such as synovial cells, nerve cells, among others that can be infected, they can stimulate autoimmune response. Our recently published studies demonstrated a possible link between mycoplasmal infections and CFS and FMS, since we found high frequencies of mycoplasmal infections in these patients. Previously we examined patients with chronic illnesses for the presence of mycoplasmal infections. We found that about one half of patients with Gulf War Illness and two third of patients with CFS/ME and FMS were positive for mycoplasmal infections in their blood. The Gulf War Veterans suffer from signs and symptoms similar to patients diagnosed with CFS and FMS. They can be treated using antibiotics effective against mycoplasmal infections, and once they recover, their blood is no longer positive for the presence of mycoplasmal infections. Our recent results indicate that Rheumatoid Arthritis is also associated with mycoplasmal infections. (see 'Autoimmune Diseases')
Recent reports and publications indicate that in addition to mycoplasmal infections, CFS/ME and FMS patients have other chronic infections caused by other intracellular bacteria and viruses. For example, patients with Lyme Disease, caused by intracellular Borrelia infections, have been diagnosed with CFS/ME. Also, CFS/ME and FMS patients can have intracellular Chlamydia species infections. These patients can also have infections by other bacteria that enter their bodies through 'leaky gut' problems. Chronically ill patients often have inflammatory bowel syndrome and other gut problems, and this can allow pathogenic bacteria to enter their systems.
Patients with CFS/ME and FMS can also have viral infections that complicate their conditions and cause morbidity. Such infections can occur with or without the bacterial infections described above. Viruses that have been associated with CFS/ME and FMS are Human Herpes Virus-6 (HHV-6) and Cytomeglovirus (CMV). These viruses have been found at high incidence in chronically ill patients, and especially those with CFS/ME. Patients with CFS/ME or FMS can have predominantly intracellular bacterial infections, predominantly viral infections, or a combination of intracellular bacterial and viral infections. This may be one reason why the underlying causes of these chronic illnesses are so difficult to determine and effectively treat. The other reason could be the persistent nature of the infections and their ability to hide inside cells where they are essentially refractory to immune system responses, their slow growing natures and their relative insensitivity to therapeutic drugs
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Syndrome and Other Fatigue Conditions
Chronic fatigue is reported by 20% of all patients seeking medical care and is considered as a nonspecific sign that is associated with many well known medical conditions. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), and Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) patients suffer from complex overlapping signs and symptoms. (see 'Signs/Symptoms' Questions, above) CFS is primarily characterized by persisting or relapsing fatigue without previous history of comparable symptoms that does not resolve with rest. In these patients other clinical conditions are absent that can explain the signs and symptoms such as malignancies or autoimmune diseases. In contrast, FMS patients have overall muscle pain, tenderness, and weakness as primary complaints, but they have most if not all of the commonly found signs and symptoms for CFS. We previously proposed that CFS/ME patients might be suffering from chronic infections that can cause, in part, their complex signs and symptoms. For example, systemic mycoplasmal infections can cause chronic fatigue, muscle pain and a variety of additional signs and symptoms, some of which are related to dysfunctional immune responses and in extreme cases autoimmune-like disorders. Some mycoplasmas can invade virtually every human tissue and can compromise the immune system, permitting opportunistic infections by other bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeast. When mycoplasmas exit certain cells, such as synovial cells, nerve cells, among others that can be infected, they can stimulate autoimmune response. Our recently published studies demonstrated a possible link between mycoplasmal infections and CFS and FMS, since we found high frequencies of mycoplasmal infections in these patients. Previously we examined patients with chronic illnesses for the presence of mycoplasmal infections. We found that about one half of patients with Gulf War Illness and two third of patients with CFS/ME and FMS were positive for mycoplasmal infections in their blood. The Gulf War Veterans suffer from signs and symptoms similar to patients diagnosed with CFS and FMS. They can be treated using antibiotics effective against mycoplasmal infections, and once they recover, their blood is no longer positive for the presence of mycoplasmal infections. Our recent results indicate that Rheumatoid Arthritis is also associated with mycoplasmal infections. (see 'Autoimmune Diseases')
Recent reports and publications indicate that in addition to mycoplasmal infections, CFS/ME and FMS patients have other chronic infections caused by other intracellular bacteria and viruses. For example, patients with Lyme Disease, caused by intracellular Borrelia infections, have been diagnosed with CFS/ME. Also, CFS/ME and FMS patients can have intracellular Chlamydia species infections. These patients can also have infections by other bacteria that enter their bodies through 'leaky gut' problems. Chronically ill patients often have inflammatory bowel syndrome and other gut problems, and this can allow pathogenic bacteria to enter their systems.
Patients with CFS/ME and FMS can also have viral infections that complicate their conditions and cause morbidity. Such infections can occur with or without the bacterial infections described above. Viruses that have been associated with CFS/ME and FMS are Human Herpes Virus-6 (HHV-6) and Cytomeglovirus (CMV). These viruses have been found at high incidence in chronically ill patients, and especially those with CFS/ME. Patients with CFS/ME or FMS can have predominantly intracellular bacterial infections, predominantly viral infections, or a combination of intracellular bacterial and viral infections. This may be one reason why the underlying causes of these chronic illnesses are so difficult to determine and effectively treat. The other reason could be the persistent nature of the infections and their ability to hide inside cells where they are essentially refractory to immune system responses, their slow growing natures and their relative insensitivity to therapeutic drugs
