New Hope for Sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

For decades, CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) has been a disorder that few physicians believed existed, that sufferers knew existed and for which there was neither a known physiologic basis nor diagnostic test. It was a landmine of controversy. It most commonly involved women in their mid-lives. It is characterized by extreme fatigue not improved by bed rest. There is a suggestion that some sufferers may have had an infection before the onset. EBV (Epstein Barr Virus) has been implicated but not proven to be at the root cause.

Perhaps the most frustrating issue for sufferers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is that they felt no one believed them. Although the ultimate cause has not been determined their have been some breakthroughs: 1. Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, a so-called cytokine produced by the body's immune system and associated with fatigue, may be elevated in Chronic Fatigue Patients. 2. A series of mutations in genes associated with reaction to stress in a well designed study have shown "mutations" in an important set of genes. The references are given below.3. Finally, a powerful antiviral medication has been shown to be at least partially effective in those who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome: valganciclovir, directed against Herpes virus 6, a possible culprit in CFS.

The really good news is that this is no longer an orphan disease, not believed by doctors or even loved ones. Help is on the horizon. The hoof beats of the cavalry can be heard/ And remember, it is definitely the squeaky wheel that gets the oil in medical care.

References are given, a government site, a Wikipedia site, and a National CFS Organization site. If you suffer from CFS, please consider printing out the scientific articles when you see your health care provider. And Good Luck.

http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9507462
Is Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha at the root of CFS
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/GeneralNeurology/tb/3130
Study indicated several genes involved in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal system may have unique mutations in CFS
http://www.cdc.gov/cfs/
Excellent government introduction to CFS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_fatigue_syndrome
Exhaustive Wiki article without the latest scientific information
http://www.cfids.org/
Chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome organization - a patient website.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/17/science/17fatigue.html?ex=1342324800&en=dc030ae7e4f65377&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss Free registration required
Heart warming article about physician who has dedicated her life to CFS. Worth the read.