Journal of IiME Volume 6 Issue 1 (June 2012) interventions permitted are cognitive restructuring and graded exercise. 1983 “Our research and that of others working in collaboration with us has shown conclusively that post-viral fatigue state, i.e. myalgic encephalomyelitis, has an undisputed organic basis….We were also able to show by looking at receptors on lymphocytes i.e. markers on white blood cells, that there was an increased association of patients with the disease with one particular type of marker. This type of marker is usually found in patients with immunological abnormalities of a particular type. We furthermore were able to demonstrate that there was impaired regulation of the immune system in patients with the disease, both in the acute and chronic stage….we did this serially on several occasions and the abnormality persisted. The abnormality was..of the sort that is found with persistent virus infection. A number of other subtle but definite immunological abnormalities were found and described that…are of the type found in association with disorganised immunoregulation….This meeting at Cambridge showed that using… advanced immunological tests…that patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis had definite proven abnormalities of a specific type” (Dr – later Professor -- Peter Behan; consultant neurologist. Symposium on ME, Cambridge, September 1983). 1985 “Our detailed studies have uncovered a series of subtle yet objective organic abnormalities in these patients. Importantly, nearly all of the patients studied had increased T cell mediated suppression…which showed increased numbers of OKT4 positive (helper-inducer) cells” (Stephen E Straus, G Tosato et al. Ann Int Med 1985:102:716). 1986 “Eighty percent of patients demonstrate clinically significant IgE mediated allergic disease, including food and drug reactions. The data indicate that patients have a high association with hypersensitivity states. Percent positive responsiveness to allergens is consistent with the high degree of allergy observed in these patients” Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) (George B Olsen, James F Jones et al. J All Clin Immunol 1986:78:308-314). 1986 “We have now studied about 1000 samples from patients with ME….Virtually all of the samples of patients with a good clinical diagnosis of ME have circulating IgM complexes in their blood…In addition 25% of them have detectable IgM antiCoxsackie virus antibodies in the blood. These antibodies are made shortly after exposure and their presence after many years suggests that the exposure and the immunisation is continuing. In addition…it has been possible to show that about 40% of the patients have Coxsackie group specific antigens bound to the antibody in their blood. The majority of patients have high IgG titres of antibody to Coxsackie viruses as well” (Professor James Mowbray’s Report on Research on ME to the ME Association, June 1986). 1986 In his Foreword to Dr Melvin Ramsay’s publication “Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome – the Saga of Royal Free Disease”, promoted and sold by the ME Association, Dr Peter Behan said: “The disease follows viral infections, and laboratories on both sides of the Atlantic have now provided convincing evidence that these patients do have histological, electrophysiological and immunological abnormalities”. 1987 Irving Salit, Associate Professor of Medicine and Microbiology at the University of Toronto and Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Toronto General Hospital, noted: “Findings include mild immunodeficiency, slightly low complement, anti-DNA antibodies and elevated synthetase, which is an interferon-associated enzyme commonly increased in infections. This illness is of major importance because it is so prevalent and because it has such devastating consequences: afflicted patients are frequently unable to work or carry on with usual social activities….Patients tend to tolerate medications very poorly and many have a history of drug allergies. Most patients do not improve on anti-depressants and are usually exquisitely sensitive to the side effects” (Clin Ecol 1987/8:V:3:103-107). www.investinme.org Page 32 of 108
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