Electron microscopic immunocytological profiles in chronic fatigue syndrome

J Psychiatr Res. 1997 Jan-Feb;31(1):115-22. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3956(96)00048-9.

Abstract

Structures consistent in size, shape and character with various stages of a Lentivirus replicative cycle were observed by electron microscopy in 12-day peripheral-blood lymphocyte cultures from 10 of 17 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients and not in controls. Attempts to identify a lymphoid phenotype containing these structures by immunogold labelling failed and the results of reverse-transcriptase assay of culture supernatants were equivocal. The study was blind and case-controlled, patients being paired with age, sex and ethnically matched healthy volunteers. Prescreening of subjects included the common metabolic and immunological disorders, functional conditions and a virus-screen against hepatitis B and C, Epstein-Barr Virus, Cytomegalovirus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / immunology*
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / microbiology
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / virology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lentivirus / isolation & purification
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron*
  • Middle Aged