Amelia PA Blog

As reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science today, researches have found a family of retroviruses in people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  The retrovirus XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia (virus) related virus) is linked to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – a syndrome of varying presentations involving the nervous, immune and endocrine systems. This syndrome unfortunately does not have a diagnostic biomarker or concrete cause.  In this study, about 86% of the 37 test subjects tested positive for XMRV.  This brings some optimism that antiretrovirals such as the ones used in treating HIV patients can one day be used to treat those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  This may be one of the greater developments in treating CFS patients.