Journal of IiME Volume 6 Issue 1 (June 2012) and this protein has been proposed as a biological marker for (ME)CFS. The levels of this abnormal protein have been significantly correlated to the extent of inflammatory symptoms displayed by (ME)CFS patients” (M Fremont, K De Meirleir et al. JCFS 2006:13(4):1728). 2006 In a study of cytokine genomic polymorphisms in (ME)CFS, Italian researchers found “a highly significant increase in TNF-857 and CT genotypes among patients with respect to controls and a significant decrease of IFN gamma low producers among patients with respect to controls…We hypothesise that (ME)CFS patients can have a genetic predisposition to an immunomodulatory response of an inflammatory nature probably secondary to one or more environmental insults” (N Carlo-Stella et al. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2006:24(2):179-182). 2006 On 8th September 2006 Professors Nancy Klimas and Mary Ann Fletcher attended a “Questions and Answers” Patient Session in Wellington, New Zealand at which Professor Klimas said she proves (ME)CFS disability by carrying out laboratory testing with Immune Activation Panels: (DR, CD26 expression, Th2 cytokine shift, proinflammatory cytokine expression TNF, IL-1 and IL-6) and evidence of functional defects (NK cell dysfunction, CD8 abnormalities, decreased perforin, granzymes, macrophage abnormalities and antibody production). When asked if these were available in New Zealand, she replied: “Putting panels together shouldn’t be a problem. These kinds of tests are not routine, but they should be do-able by immunologists”. When then asked: “Given the evidence of an inflammatory response, wasn’t the old name ME better than CFS?”, to which she replied: “Sure, ME is a much better name. The problem is that we’ve fought so hard in the US to get recognition as CFS (because) there is a Social Security ruling under that name, that changing it now would cause a lot of issues. I’m just trying to get slash (/) ME into it”. She was then asked why there was a Th-2 shift and she replied: “By measuring the number of Type 1 Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) 2006 On 3rd November 2006 the US Centres for Disease Control (CDC) announced its “CFS Toolkit” to inform not just the US but the whole world about the nature and severity of ME/CFS. The following are extracts from the Press Conference: Dr Julie Gerberding, Director of the US CDC: “One of the things that CDC hopes to do is to help patients know that they have an illness that requires medical attention, but also to help clinicians be able to understand, diagnose and help people with the illness. But more importantly, to be able to validate and understand the incredible suffering that many patients and their families experience in this context. We are committed to improving the awareness that this is a real illness and that people need real medical care and they deserve the best possible help that we can provide. The science has progressed (which has) helped us define the magnitude and understand better the clinical manifestations (and this has) led to a sorely needed foundation for the recognition of the underlying biological aspects of the illness. We need to respect and make that science more www.investinme.org Page 74 of 108 lymphocyte cells and comparing them to Type 2 lymphocytes, we find more of Type 2. We also find fewer numbers and poorer functioning NK cells which is an outcome of this shift. We proved that this was implicated in the symptomatology of the illness by the self-autologous infusion experiment where people were re-infused with the corrected ratio and their symptoms improved….Why the immune response is being pushed this way is at the heart of the cause of the illness”. She was then asked: “What are the consequences of this Type 2 shift?” to which she replied: “A lot of pro-inflammatory immune activation is not held in check and this gives rise to a host of symptoms”. Professor Fletcher was asked if people with ME/CFS should give blood, and she replied: “No, I don’t think it’s a good idea for two reasons – (a) most patients are 1 litre low in blood (most of Dr Klimas’ patients have around 3.5 L instead of 4.5 L, so why would you want to take out another litre?); (b) to my mind there are no studies to prove that ME is not infectious, so we can’t say with complete certainty that an infection will not be passed on” (Co-Cure MED 8th December 2006).
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