Human herpesviruses in chronic fatigue syndrome

Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 1999 Mar;6(2):216-23. doi: 10.1128/CDLI.6.2.216-223.1999.

Abstract

We have conducted a double-blind study to assess the possible involvement of the human herpesviruses (HHVs) HHV6, HHV7, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients compared to age-, race-, and gender-matched controls. The CFS patient population was composed of rigorously screened civilian and Persian Gulf War veterans meeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's CFS case definition criteria. Healthy control civilian and veteran populations had no evidence of CFS or any other exclusionary medical or psychiatric condition. Patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by PCR for the presence of these HHVs. Using two-tailed Fisher's exact test analyses, we were unable to ascertain any statistically significant differences between the CFS patient and control populations in terms of the detection of one or more of these viruses. This observation was upheld when the CFS populations were further stratified with regard to the presence or absence of major axis I psychopathology and patient self-reported gradual versus acute onset of disease. In tandem, we performed serological analyses of serum anti-EBV and anti-HHV6 antibody titers and found no significant differences between the CFS and control patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Cytomegalovirus / genetics
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology
  • Cytomegalovirus / isolation & purification
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / analysis
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / immunology
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / immunology
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / virology*
  • Female
  • Genes, Immediate-Early / immunology
  • Herpesviridae / genetics
  • Herpesviridae / immunology
  • Herpesviridae / isolation & purification*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / diagnosis*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / immunology
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / immunology
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / isolation & purification
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / immunology
  • Herpesvirus 6, Human / isolation & purification
  • Herpesvirus 7, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 7, Human / immunology
  • Herpesvirus 7, Human / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Persian Gulf Syndrome / immunology
  • Persian Gulf Syndrome / virology*
  • Serologic Tests
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / analysis
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Viral
  • EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Viral Matrix Proteins