Search for Borna disease virus in Danish fibromyalgia patients.

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Search for Borna disease virus in Danish fibromyalgia patients.

Scand J Rheumatol 2000;29(6):387-90

Wittrup IH, Christensen LS, Jensen B, Danneskiold-Samsee B, Bliddal H,

Wiik A

Research Institute, Dept. of Rheumatology, Frederiksberg

University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. Irenewittrup@...

PMID: 11132208, UI: 21015499

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to look for Borna disease virus

(BDV) in 18 patients with acute onset of fibromyalgia (FMS) following a

" flu-like " episode. BDV is a neurotropic RNA virus affecting horses and

sheep. Infections in animals have been reported to cause immune mediated

disease characterized by abnormalities in behavior. A possible link

between BDV and neuropsychiatric diseases in man has been described, and

lately a connection to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has been suggested.

METHODS: A BDV-specific nested PCR (RT-PCR) was performed on serum and

spinal fluid.

RESULTS: The BDV genome was not detected in any of the FMS cases.

CONCLUSION: Although BDV was not demonstrated in spinal fluid or serum

from the tested patients with FMS, we believe that it is important to

report our results, since FMS can exhibit many manifestations in common

with CFS. Possible reasons for the discrepant findings are discussed.