Back and forth: Study fails to show link previously found between virus and chronic fatigue syndrome

A UK study analysing samples from patients with chronic fatigue syndrome has found no evidence of a link with a retrovirus (XMRV). The virus was first described in 2006.

Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, often report that their condition—a mix of symptoms including extreme fatigue—began after an otherwise normal viral infection.

The xenotropic murine leukaemia virus-related virus (XMRV) was found in 67% of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome in a study reported last year (Science 2009,326:585-9).


The Gift of Time is a short film about the doctors who discovered the XMRV virus and the breakthru potential for prostate cancer.

References:

Study fails to show link previously found between virus and chronic fatigue syndrome. BMJ 2010;340:c1033.