Journal of IiME Volume 6 Issue 1 (June 2012) 1996:28:305-307] used the 1994 CDC criteria which do not exclude those with psychiatric disorder, and the second by McArdle A et al [Clin Sci 1996 90:295-300] was co-authored by Professor Richard Edwards, known for his belief that “many of the symptoms of these patients could be a consequence of their reduced habitual activities” [Ergonomics 1988:31:11:1519-1527] and for his objection to the publishing by the ME Association of “substantial amounts of information on the ‘disease’ “). 2009 “Examination of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACAs) in the sera of patients clinically diagnosed with (ME)CFS using an enzyme-linked immunoassay procedure demonstrated the presence of immunoglobulin M isotypes in 95% of (ME)CFS serum samples tested. The presence of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A isotypes were also detected in a subset of the samples….Testing for antibodies to cardiolipin is routinely performed as one of a panel of tests for autoimmune disorders. In our studies, the presence of ACA at relatively high titres in patients with (ME)CFS suggests the possibility of alterations to the inner membrane of liver mitochondria, thereby exposing cardiolipin in a manner so as to elicit an antibody response….A survey of the literature reports ACAs as common serological markers in many different types of diseases, including viral diseases such as illnesses resulting from chemical…exposure…HIV and EBV, haematological cancers including CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukaemia)…and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune hepatitis and more. This study demonstrates that a large percentage of patients clinically diagnosed with (ME)CFS have elevated levels of the IgM isotype to cardiolipin (955), suggesting that (ME)CFS may be an autoimmune condition (and) classification of (ME)CFS as an autoimmune disorder may serve to increase the availability of treatment options for patients suffering from this disease. Experiments are under way to elucidate why ACAs are produced in individuals afflicted with (ME)CFS. Such studies include investigating the effects of specific chemical agents…on mitochondrial metabolic pathways that are indicative of reduced or blocked energy production that may lead to the fatigued Invest in ME (Charity Nr. 1114035) state in (ME)CFS” (Yoshitsugi Hokama et al. J Clin Lab Anal 2009:23:210-212). 2009 “Recent research has implicated vitamin D deficiency (serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D <50 nmol/L) with a number of chronic conditions, including autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis, lupus and psoriasis, and chronic conditions such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, metabolic syndrome, fibromyalgia and (ME)chronic fatigue syndrome….These findings support the use of 1,25-D as a clinical marker in autoimmune conditions” (Blaney GP et al. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2009:1173:384-390). 2009 “This study aimed to determine the influence of autoantibodies, polymorphisms in the serotonin pathway, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genes on age at (ME)CFS onset and symptoms…Our results reveal that in (ME)CFS, like other autoimmune diseases, different genetic features are related to age at (ME)CFS onset and symptoms” (OD Ortega-Hernandez et al. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2009:1173:589-599). 2009 “Cancer and (ME)CFS are both characterised by fatigue and severe disability. Besides fatigue, certain aspects of immune dysfunction appear to be present in both illnesses. In this regard, a literature review of overlapping immune dysfunction in (ME)CFS and cancer is provided. Special emphasis is given to the relationship between immune dysfunctions and fatigue….It may be clear that fatigue is a major complaint in both diseases….The immunological problems in particular are clearly apparent and quite similar in both diseases” (Mira Meeus, Jo Nijs et al. Anticancer Research 2009:29:4717-4726). 2009 “(ME)CFS studies from our laboratory and others have described cytokine abnormalities….This study screened plasma factors to identify circulating biomarkers associated with (ME)CFS….The following cytokines were elevated in (ME)CFS www.investinme.org Page 86 of 108
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