HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

IgM serum antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus are present in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome

Study Abstract

BACKGROUND:
A unique subset of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and IgM serum antibodies to cytomegalovirus (HCMV) non-structural gene products p52 and CM2 (UL 44 and UL 57) has been described.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Fifty-eight CFS patients and 68 non-CFS matched controls were studied. Serum antibodies to EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM and EBV Early Antigen, diffuse (EA, D) as well HVCMV(V), IgM and IgG; VP (sucrose, density purified V), p52 and CM2 IgM serum antibodies were assayed.
RESULTS:
Mean age of CFS patients was 44 years (75% women). Control patients were 9 years older (73% women). Serum EBV VCA IgM positive antibody titers were identified in 33 CFS patients (Group A subset EBV VCA IgM 62.3+/-8.3, neg. <20), but were not present in other CFS patients, (Group B subset EBV VCA IgM 6.8+/-0.7) controls (p<0.0001). EBV VCA IgM titers remained positive in CFS patients from Group A for 24-42 months.
CONCLUSION:
Serum antibody to EBV VCA IgM may be a specific diagnostic test for a second subset of CFS patients.

Study Information

Lerner AM, Beqaj SH, Deeter RG, Fitzgerald JT.
IgM serum antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus are uniquely present in a subset of patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome.
In Vivo.
2004 March
Department of Medicine, William Beaumont Hospital and Wayne State University School of Medicine, Royal Oak, Michigan, USA.

Full Study

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15113035