EFN

A new study suggest that a prostate cancer virus known as XMRV, may play a role in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) – a disorder that causes cramps, headaches, weakness, and sleeplessness.

The breakthrough study was conducted by teams of researchers from the Whittemore Peterson Institute (WPI), located at the University of Nevada, Reno, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Cleveland Clinic, and was published online on 8 October in the journal Science.

The XMRV virus was discovered in the blood of 68 out of 101 chronic fatigue syndrome patients, however only 8 of 218 healthy people, the scientists noted.

Lead researcher, Dr Judy Mikovits of the Whittemore Peterson Institute in Nevada and colleagues at the National Cancer Institute and the Cleveland Clinic stressed that the study only demonstrates a link between the virus and chronic fatigue syndrome and does not prove that it causes the disorder.

“I think this finding will open up a whole new world of treatment options for patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and we also believe it will impact millions of others with neuro-immune diseases like fibromyalgia, Atypical Multiple Sclerosis, Epstein Barr and even autism,” Dr. Mikovits said.

The researchers hope to test the effects of anti-retroviral drugs in sufferers. Other experts say the study was too small to be conclusive. “It’s spectacular however needs replication,” Dr. Mikovits said.

According to the NHS, XMRV is usually more common in women than men and can range from mild symptoms, that would mean people would need to take time off work, to severe ones which could lead sufferers to need 24-hour bed rest. It is estimate that some 4 percent of healthy people carry XMRV.

A large number of medical experts have debated that it is not an actual disorder since there have previously been no biochemical markers that characterize it. The only beneficial treatments are behavioral changes and antidepressants, and they are of minor benefit.