confused

[Guest guest]

I am so confused. I thought they had just found a viral link to this disease,

and now they are saying it is genetic linked. When they don't know for sure wish

they would say nothing. It kills my hopes to see so many conflicting

stories........

Jeanette

CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME: GENE LINK ?

CDC Chief: Study Shows Credible Evidence That Disorder Has Biological Basis

By Todd Zwillich - WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD

A study recently published shows evidence of the genetic underpinnings of

aspects of chronic fatigue syndromechronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a disorder

affecting up to 1 million Americans.

CDC researchers say they've uncovered genetic evidence linking symptoms of

the disease -- including fatigue, chronic pain, and memory problems -- with

genetic factors governing how the body handles stress.

Specifically, the researchers say they've found evidence that people with

CFS symptoms have genetic factors that could alter how those people react to

stress from life events, injury, or infections over the course of their lives,

potentially giving rise to the disorder's unpleasant symptoms.

The research, which has yet to be replicated, is a first step toward

improving diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or targeting treatments to

specific

aspects of the disease, the scientists said.

Syndrome's Biological Basis

" It really is the first credible evidence of a biological basis for chronic

fatigue syndrome, " CDC director M. Gerberding, MD, told reporters on a

telephone conference call.

To do the study, published in the April issue of the journal

Pharmacogenomics, CDC researchers closely analyzed data from 277 adults from

Wichita, Kan.

The participants included people with chronic fatigue and also nonfatigued

people for comparison. Subjects were put through a battery of lab tests,

psychiatric tests, and mental function tests, including screens of pain

thresholds,

memory functioning, sleep quality, and stress responses. Approximately 20,000

genetic factors were also analyzed.

The information was then shared with 20 different researchers working

together in teams, who were allowed to analyze and interpret the data looking

for

possible biological explanations for chronic fatigue syndrome.

CDC researcher Suzanne D. Vernon, said that different labs came up with

genetic results pointing to a " clear biologic basis for CFS.

" Now what we've done is create a molecular profile of individuals " with

chronic fatigue, Vernon said.

Looking to the Future

Despite the findings, the study leaves several unanswered questions. First,

researchers were not able to determine how strongly each of the genetic

factors influences chronic fatigue symptoms or whether people unaffected by

chronic

fatigue may have the same genetic factors present.

Second, scientists still will have trouble defining exactly how gene

profiles may point to someone with chronic fatigue, a disorder that is diagnosed

by

symptoms, not by a particular alteration in the body or special blood tests.

Still, Vernon said the results could help drug developers target medications

toward specific physiologic problems involved in chronic fatigue. It could

also help doctors decide what kind of treatment might benefit a patient based

in part on genetic testing.

CDC scientist Reeves said the agency has already begun an attempt to

repeat the findings in another patient population in Georgia.

Now the question is, " can we replicate it in a completely independent

sample, " he said.

SOURCES: Vernon, S. Pharmacogenomics, April 2006; vol 7: pp 345-354.

M. Gerberding, director, CDC. Suzanne Vernon, CDC. Reeves, CDC. © 2006

WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.

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Jeanette