Research News
The latest information on research, treatment and diagnosis of CFS and related disorders

Exercise predicts RNase L variant
People withCFIDS (PWCs) who carry an unusual protein in their immune system appear to perform worse on exercise tests than other PWCs, according to new research published in the journal In Vivo (Vol. 16, No. 2).

Researchers tested a total of 73 people with CFIDS at nine locations across the United States . The people were asked to exercise until exhaustion on a treadmill.

The participants had already been tested for the presence of a lighter-than-normal version of a protein called RNase L. This protein is present in a subset of people with CFIDS , and has already been linked to higher overall levels of disability.

The test results showed that the low-weight RNAse L group fared significantly worse than other PWCs on tests for peak oxygen consumption, duration of exercise and other related scores. In fact, researchers who didn’t know the subject’s RNAse L status were able to predict the presence of the low-weight protein in 91.3 percent of cases based solely on the exercise results.

The authors say this discovery can aid the design of future CFIDS studies, making it easier for researchers to examine specific subsets of PWCs more accurately.

Respiratory infection common at CFIDS onset
One-fourth of CFIDS patients in a recent study reported having an upper respiratory tract infection just prior to the onset of their disease, researchers in Belgium say.

The study asked 1,546 people to list any illnesses or unusual health issues that they experienced before becoming sick with CFIDS. Respiratory tract infections were the most common (24.3%), followed by flu-like illness (13.8%). Stress (9.8%) and mononucleosis (9.2%) were also reported in a significant percentage of cases.

Among those who met the stricter Holmes criteria (1988) for CFS, 48.0 percent reported an upper respiratory tract infection, while 33.6 percent said they suffered from a gradual onset of the disease without any prior illness.

Almost half the study participants reported more than one illness or event prior to the onset of CFIDS. Researchers say the results strongly suggest CFIDS is a heterogeneous disease that can be triggered by a wide number of factors. The study appears in the Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Vol. 10, No. 2).

Young PWCs show low oxygen levels
Some young people with CFIDS may suffer from oxygen-poor blood in their brains, according to a study in the Journal of Pediatrics (Vol. 140, No. 4).

Researchers examined 16 people ages 10–22 who had both CFIDS and orthostatic intolerance (OI). When asked to stand up, 15 of the 16 subjects failed to receive a normal influx of oxygen-carrying red blood cells in their brains. Thirteen of the 16 failed to achieve a normal level even after several minutes of standing.

By contrast, only six of 12 people who had CFIDS but not OI showed this reaction, and just two of 20 healthy subjects. While this may indicate a link between blood oxygenation in the brain and CFIDS , the authors note that it does not explain why people can have CFIDS without OI.

In a related editorial, CFIDS researcher Peter Rowe, MD, called the results “intriguing,” but said more testing is required to clarify the possible link. Rowe said it would be important to see whether the shortage of oxygen disappears in people who either recover from CFIDS or whose symptoms improve after being treated for OI.  

Brain changes seen in Gulf War vets
Many Gulf War veterans suffer from debilitating diseases, including CFIDS, that some experts believe are related to chemical exposure during their service. New, unpublished research claims that the brains of disabled vets may show changes similar to those in people with Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases.

Speaking at a U.S. congressional hearing held in England, Robert Haley, MD, said he had discovered “chemical disturbances” in the brains of some of the 249 veterans he studied. Haley said his prior research shows that Gulf war vets are two to three times more likely than the general population to suffer from motor neurone diseases, which affect coordination and muscle control. Haley is chief of epidemiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Rehab program may aid adolescents
Australian researchers report that an intensive, inpatient rehabilitation program may help some children with CFIDS return to full-time schooling.

Fifty-seven children between the ages of 10 and 19 were admitted to the four-week program, which was conducted in the late 1990s. The program included physiotherapy, nutritional guidance, regular evaluations by pediatricians, school work and a structured schedule designed to help re-integrate the child to a regular school environment.

Prior to completing the program, none of the children were attending school regularly. Five years later, 20 of the 41 children who responded to a follow-up questionnaire reported that they were in school full time.

The study has several limitations. For instance, it is not known how many of the 41 would have returned to school regardless of whether they attended the program. The authors also noted that more than half the children in the study still were not attending school full time. But the authors say the program may be an “important step” in beginning a recovery process.

The study was published in the Journal of Pediatric and Child Health (Vol. 38).

Reprint policy for Chronicle, CFS Research Review
The CFIDS Chronicle and The CFS Research Review are produced for people with CFIDS and medical professionals with an interest in CFIDS. It is the Association’s intent to spread news and information about the disease to as wide an audience as possible.

To help achieve this goal, articles that appear in the Chronicle and Review will be made available for reprint under most circumstances. In general, the Association will grant one-time reprint permission to any group or individual intending to use the article for noncommercial purposes. This includes people who produce support group newsletters, Web sites and similar publications.

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