There is no clear consensus that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a distinct disease. This condition is characterized by debilitating fatigue and weakness that lasts for many years, and it impacts about 1% of the world’s population. CFS is currently recognized by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC lists the following symptoms as part of this condition:
- cognitive dysfunction, including impaired memory
- exhaustion and increased symptoms following physical exercise
- restless sleep
- joint pain (without redness or swelling)
- persistent muscle pain
- headaches of a new type or severity
- tender lymph nodes
- sore throat.
There is no known cause of this disease. However, an important experimental discovery has been reported from the laboratory of Dr. Vincent C Lombardi at the Whittemore Peterson Institute in Reno, Nevada. He and his colleagues have identified a human gammaretrovirus that is related to a virus found in mice (XMRV) from blood samples of 67% of patients suffering from CFS. This compares to only 3.7% of healthy individuals having this virus.
This result demonstrates a strong correlation between CFS and the presence of the virus, but it does not prove that it is the causative agent of the disease. This will require further study. It does raise the strong possibility, however, that this virus is a contributing factor to this condition and may ultimately open up new avenues for treatment.
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