Journal of IiME Volume 3 Issue 1 www.investinme.org P PRROOFFIILLEESS ooff PPRREESSEENNTTEERRSS aatt tthhee IINNVVEESSTT iinn MMEE I INNTTEERRNNAATTIIOONNAALL MMEE//CCFFSS CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEE D Drr JJoohhnn CChhiiaa MMDD Dr Chia is an infectious disease specialist practicing in Torrance, California, USA and has published research recently (Chronic fatigue syndrome associated with chronic enterovirus infection of the stomach) on the role of enteroviruses in the aetiolgy of ME/CFS – an area which has been implicated as one of the causes by a number of studies. There are more than 70 different types of enteroviruses that can affect the central nervous system, heart and muscles, all of which is consistent with the symptoms of ME/CFS. By analyzing samples of stomach tissue from 165 patients with CFS, Dr. Chia's team discovered that 82% of these individuals had high levels of enteroviruses in their digestive systems. Dr Chia's research may result in the development of antiviral drugs to treat the debilitating symptoms of ME/CFS. C Coonnffeerreennccee PPrreesseennttaatt iioonn ff rroomm DDrr CChhiiaa:: D Diiaaggnnooss ii ss aanndd TT rreeaattmmeenntt ooff MMyyaallggiicc EEnncceepphhaalloommyyeell ii tt ii ss//CChhrroonn iicc F Faatt iigguuee SSyynnddrroommee AAssssoocciiaatteedd wwii tthh CChhrroonniicc EEnntteerroovvii rruuss iinnffeecctt iioonn.. J Joohhnn CChhiiaa,, AAnnddrreeww CChhiiaa.. EEVV MMeedd RReesseeaarrcchh ME/CFS is an elusive illness without a clear etiology and treatment. Emerging evidences suggest that enteroviruses can persist in the tissues of ME/CFS patients and may be responsible for the various symptoms. Enteroviruses are common causes of respiratory, gastrointestinal and non-specific flu-like illnesses. Major epidemics of enterovirus infections including but not limited to meningoencephalitis, myocarditis, pleurodynia, myositis and hand-foot-mouth diseases have been well-documented in the past decades. In some cases, acute enterovirus infections can cause CD8+ T lymphocytopenia predisposing to reactivation of endogenous herpes viruses. Initial isolation of enteroviruses from patients with acute infections followed by demonstration of persistent viral infection in tissues years after the patients developed chronic symptoms lends support to the pathogenic role of enteroviruses in ME/CFS. Presumptive clinical diagnosis of chronic enterovirus infection requires a high index of suspicion, familiarity with the protean manifestations of acute infections and understanding of chronic viral persistence. There is not yet a specific diagnostic test for ME/CFS. Significantly elevated neutralizing antibody titer over time suggests persistent immunologic response to specific enterovirus(s) infection in the tissues. Neutralizing antibody test for 11 of the most common non-polio enteroviruses is performed by one U.S. reference laboratory. Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) Page 72/76
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