Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Detailed Explanation of the New Retroviral-CFS Study

The CFIDS Association's Kimberly McClearly has posted an excellent, detailed explanation of the new retrovirus-CFS study that was published yesterday.  McClearly describes the study's methods and results in easy-to-understand terms. 

I took Craig in for his well visit this morning and was very pleased when his pediatrician said, "Did you read the news yesterday about Murine-Leukemia Viruses and CFS?"  Awesome that she had already heard about it (she also asked how I am doing this week - she's amazing!).  I gave her a printout of the Wall Street Journal's article from yesterday, and we discussed the implications briefly.  Exciting news!

5 comments:

Shelli said...

I have friends e-mailing me saying, "Did you see this?" I'm thrilled that there's so much media attention. People are understanding more. Good, good, good!

Toni said...

Thanks as always, Sue, for keeping us informed. To add to the discussion, here is what my only "CFS expert" contact said when I wrote to him about the new study (he knows I tested negative to XMRV but that I have high titers for HHV-6 even though Valcyte didn't help me):

"The paper just published found viruses that are cousins to XMRV, but not XMRV itself. So the negative PCR test does not necessarily mean you do not have an infection with one of these mouse retroviruses. I'm afraid it's a confusing time, as laboratories are trying to work together to develop the most accurate tests, and aren't there yet.

I also think it's likely that the symptoms of CFS are due to the interaction of various infectious agents in the brain, and HHV-6 is a prime candidate to interact with a retrovirus.

Hang in there until the scientific dust settles. I think things will be clearer in the next year."

Sue Jackson said...

Yes, Shelli - me, too! Isn't it great?

Thanks for the extra info, Toni. I thought of you being XMRV negative when I read about this study finding not XMRV but close relatives of it!

Sue

parenting ad absurdum said...

Awesome - I love tuned in doctors!

Dusty Bogwrangler said...

Thank you Sue for pointing us to this more easily digestible report. I've been a bit confused by it all over the last few days, not least because there has only been, to my knowledge, one report in the UK press.