Related-ish to Tarello, possibly worth a look at full text

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Rheumatol Int. 2003 Sep;23(5):211-5. Epub 2003 Jul 16. Related

Articles, Links

Mycoplasma blood infection in chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia

syndromes.

Endresen GK.

Department of Rheumatology, The National Hospital, University of

Oslo, Forskningsvn. 2-Block B, 0027, Oslo, Norway.

gerhard.endresen@...

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) are

characterised by a lack of consistent laboratory and clinical

abnormalities. Although they are distinguishable as separate

syndromes based on established criteria, a great number of patients

are diagnosed with both.

In studies using polymerase chain reaction methods, mycoplasma blood

infection has been detected in about 50% of patients with CFS and/or

FMS, including patients with Gulf War illnesses and symptoms that

overlap with one or both syndromes. Such infection is detected in

only about 10% of healthy individuals, significantly less than in

patients.

Most patients with CFS/FMS who have mycoplasma infection appear to

recover and reach their pre-illness state after long-term antibiotic

therapy with doxycycline, and the infection can not be detected

after recovery.

By means of causation and therapy, mycoplasma blood infection may

permit a further subclassification of CFS and FMS. It is not clear

whether mycoplasmas are associated with CFS/FMS as causal agents,

cofactors, or opportunistic infections in patients with immune

disturbances. Whether mycoplasma infection can be detected in about

50% of all patient populations with CFS and/or FMS is yet to be

determined.

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PMID: 12879275 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]