Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Not Caused by Virus

Since 2009 researchers have fiercely debated the cause of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), now science has failed in confirmation of the virus being related to CFS.

Just last week the study co-orientated by the U.S. Government has shown that there is no association between the former culprit virus and CFS.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome has no known cause and do to this there is no cure. This disease causes extreme fatigue. Estimates show there are one million Americans who have this disease which makes it extremely hard to do everyday common tasks.

The once believed cause has now crumbled as scientists conducting a new study find there is no association to the virus which was once labeled the cause of the disease.

Blood XMRV Scientific Research Working Group located in North Carolina, conducted this new study in which researchers examined blood samples from 15 people who had previously tested positive for XMRV or mouse leukemia virus 14. Among the 15 people, fourteen had CFS and one had contact with a patient who had CFS.

The blood samples had been sent to nine different labs and were blinded. Among the labs who receive the samples were National Cancer Institute lab who had participated in the 2009 study of XMRV and Whittemore Peterson Institute lab. Among the labs, seven of these could not find XMRV or any related virus contained in the samples. The two afore mentioned labs that participated in the 2009 study did find retroviruses. However, did not find the virus in the same people and were equally as likely to find the viruses in controls and along with those who had tested positive before. Not one of the two original labs from the 2009 study could duplicate their original findings.

The cause of CFS still remains a mystery with a list of possible culprits which include herpes virus and Epstein Barr virus. There are many who endure this disease and mention that at times physicians do not believe they are ill.

When in 2009 science had blamed XMRV as a culprit it came with great relief to those millions suffering from this disease. If a cause was determined then their was the likelihood for a treatment. However, that research has been slowly crumbling. Since that first research there has been 17 studies which have demonstrated that there is no association to the XMRV virus. A study which had come out in May was severely detrimental against the original study by discovering that blood samples had laboratory contamination.

There were 13 authors of the original study all of whom signed a partial retraction on Thursday when this study had come out in the prestigious journal Science.

According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Judy A. Mikovits, PhD, from Whittemore, lead researcher of the original study stands by her theory of a retrovirus linked with chronic fatigue syndrome and may not be XMRV and that researchers need to keep looking for the right one.

Kim McCleary, CEO and president of the Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Association of America believe it is time to move on to other areas to research and the association shares the disappointment along with CFS patients. It seems that many experts agree with Ms. McCleary.

Many CFS look towards alternative therapies when conventional medicine falls short.

Some of these treatments include:

Chiropractic

Some studies have demonstrated chiropractic adjustments may bring effective relief in some persons. Improvement of symptoms have included; joint functioning, boost energy and decrease pain. It is believed that the adjustments have a stimulating effect on the nervous system.

Reflexology

Reflexology cannot directly treat CFS however, it does improve the patients overall health and for that reason it is recommended for CFS patients. It has also been noted that reflexology may aide in other areas such as boosting energy levels and ridding headaches.

Sources:

Health Land Time

Vancouver Sun