Retroviruses in CFS
Two recent reports have suggested an involvement of retroviral infection in CFS. In 2009, a Science paper from Lombardi et al. reported detection of XMRV, a new infectious retrovirus originally isolated from prostate cancer, in 67% of patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Another study by Lo et al., published in the PNAS in 2010, reported that 86,5% of CFS patients (32 of 37 samples tested) presented murine leukemia virus (MLV)-related sequences in their PBMC DNA.
However, a number of studies later failed to detect XMRV in samples from CFS patients. Possible reasons for these discrepancies include technical issues, regional variations in virus prevalence, presence of multiple variants of the virus.
More research is needed to understand the origin of the viral DNA sequences detected by PCR, and of the viral proteins detected by various serological assays. Expression of viral RNA or proteins in patients cells may result from a de novo infection by an exogenous retrovirus (XMRV or a related retrovirus), but could also correspond to the reactivation of endogenous retroviruses, which has already been observed in immune diseases like multiple sclerosis.
RED Laboratories is currently conducting a number of research studies on retroviral infections/reactivations in CFS. We have not yet accumulated enough data to support any claim regarding retrovirus prevalence and association with the disease.
As a routine test, we currently offer the detection of antibodies against retroviral proteins. Serum samples are collected in our laboratory and sent to VIPdx, Reno, USA, for analysis.
RED Laboratories does not make any claims regarding the biological significance, and medical implications, of a positive or negative result. Only physicians can decide whether the test is necessary, do test interpretation, define treatment options, and answer questions regarding transmissibility and health implications. We do not accept samples for analysis which have not been requested by a physician.