8th International IACFS Conference on CFS, FM, and Related Illnesses by Charles Lappe, M.D., Director of the Hunter-Hopkins Medical Center

There is weak evidence for using growth hormone, 5-hydroxy-tryptane, tropisetron, and SAMe; and NO evidence supports the use of NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.), corticosteroids, or guiafenesin. Clauw is not a fan of opioids, narcotics, or sleep medications in the treatment of FM. Newer possible therapies for fibropain include GHB (Xyrem™), dopamine agonists (roprinolole, pramipexole), and neuromodulators.

Lastly, Clauw pointed out that there is a strong familial predisposition to fibromyalgia, with first degree relatives having 8 times the risk of developing FM. Also, Diatchenko has linked abnormalities in the COMT haplotype (which controls serotonin in the body and brain) to TMJ. This means that at least one gene codes for pain, and possibly the tendency to develop FM.

Epidemiology

Rosemary Underhill of the New Jersey CFS Association studied the prevalence of chronic fatigue and CFS in the offspring of mothers with CFS/ME. A questionnaire to members of the NJCFSA identified 108 mothers with physician-documented CFS/ME. These woman were contacted for details. There were 220 offspring. 24% of mothers had an offspring with documented CFS/ME or chronic fatigue (CF). CFS/ME occurred in 5.5%, and 11.4% had chronic fatigue. Both sons and daughters were affected about equally, and half developed illness after age 18. 42% of the offspring with CFS/ME had already recovered, as had one-third of those with CF.

Leonard Jason (DePaul University, Chicago) calculated the economic impact of CFS/ME using both community-based and tertiary sample pools. Indirect costs (that is, loss of production) were estimated to occur in 27%, or an annual loss of $20,000 per person with CFS/ME. Direct costs (drugs, medical tests, office visits, etc.) were ascertained to be $8764 per person in the tertiary sample and $2341 in the community sample. (Patients identified from tertiary care tend to be more ill than those in the community.)

Thus, the combined direct and indirect costs were $22,341 per person in the community sample and $28,674 in the tertiary sample, for an annual cost to the US economy of 19.6 to 25.2-billion dollars.

Ampligen – Dr. William Carter, CEO of Hemispherx Biopharma, reported the Ampligen experience to a crowd of interested providers before sessions began on Saturday, January 13. He stated that since the 1980’s about 1000 individuals have been treated with Ampligen, using about 80,000 doses of this experimental drug. Phase III studies have been positive — showing a 16% increase in exercise ability in treated subjects – and preliminary data has been submitted to the FDA toward the New Drug Application for Ampligen. There was no speculation when this process will be complete or when Ampligen might be available to patients.

Brain Function

The current status of researching brain function in CFS/ME was reviewed by Gudrun Lange (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – UMDNJ). She described some of the neurocognitive tests used to demonstrate cognitive dysfunction in CFS/ME, and pointed out that testing is much more positive in bedridden subjects (presumably sicker) and after maximal exertion (say on a bicycle or treadmill).

Radiological tools that demonstrate positive findings are MRI, CT scanning, SPECT and PET scanning (which measure cerebral blood flow), Proton Magnetic SPECT or Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (they measure brain metabolites such as glucose), and blood oxygen level dependent Functional MRI (or fMRI, which measures activation in areas of the brain, say to pain).

Studies so far have demonstrated that:

• PWCs perform as accurately as healthy controls, but require more regions of the brain (that is, PWCs have to work harder to get the same results);

• The key cognitive deficit in PWC’s is their speed of information processing; and,

• Metabolic findings have been variable, depending on the metabolite and the group studying it.

Doctors from Barcelona, Spain, and Santiago, Chile, presented their results of SPECT scanning in PWCs compared to patients with depression. Dr. Garcia-Quintana showed that cerebral blood flow is decreased in the frontal lobes (only) of depressed patients, but reduced in frontal lobes and brainstem in PWCs. PWCs also have an increase of blood flow in the thalamus (a pain control center). Following exercise (or mental strain such as puzzles, short stories, or cubing numbers) the cerebral blood flow was markedly decreased in frontal, pre-frontal, anterior temporal, and cingulated regions in more than 87% of subjects studied. Increased blood levels of the enzymes elastace and RNaseL correlated with more severe loss of cerebral blood flow. Comment: This is old news, but confirms previous studies in the US. We have known for over a decade that frontal, temporal lobe, and brainstem blood flow is reduced in PWCs, which is thought to cause problems with creativity/motivation/memory (frontal lobes), mood and memory (temporal lobes), and the sleep/fatigue/autonomic centers of the brainstem. We also knew that both exercise and mental exertion exacerbate this reduced blood flow for up to 72 hours! The new twist is that elevated elastase and RNaseL levels correlate with reduced blood flow.

Fumihara Togo (UMDNJ) presented a short but elegant paper that studied motor tasks and performance time in PWCs. Subjects would focus on a target – in this case an arrow pointing left or right – and touch one key for left, another for right. Togo demonstrated that motor performance was normal in CFS/ME, but that PWCs were slower to perform. In contrast, depressed patients had difficulty with both motor skills and speed.

A similar kind of finger-tapping study was described by Mark Van Ness, Christopher Snell, and Staci Stevens (University of the Pacific). They measured simple reaction time (the response to a simple target) and complex reaction time (response to a target hidden within other information) at rest, and then 30 minutes and 24 hours after an exercise test. They found that PWCs were a bit slower to respond than matched controls even at rest, worst 30 minutes after exercise, and still delayed 24 hours later. This held for simple or complex reaction time.

Hiro Kuratsune (Kansai University, Japan) concluded this session with a summary of what is known about brain function in CFS. We know:

• The MRI is abnormal in the majority of PWCs due to numerous T2 weighted hyperintense spots or foci, and evidence of demyelination

• PWCs with more brain abnormalities tend to be more physically impaired

• The volume of gray matter is reduced in proportion to reduced physical activity (that is, the brain shrinks in PWCs who are inactive!)

• Cerebral blood flow is diminished, especially in the cingulate area (controls attention, autonomic nervous system), temporal lobes (control mood, motivation), and frontal lobes (motivation, creativity, and short term memory)

• The concentration of acetyl-carnitine is reduced, particularly in the cingulate, and supplementing acetyl-carnitine may increase neurotransmitters such as GABA. glutamine, and aspartate

• Acetyl-carnitine supplementation may also improve attention

• 5-HT (serotonin) transporter binding was reduced in the rostral cingulate area in PWCs, which may help explain fatigue and pain

Behavioral Health

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) are commonly thought to be the only effective treatments for CFS/ME, mostly due to the influence of two meta-analyses of the treatment literature. (In actuality, these were the only two effective modalities that had been studied extensively, but other treatments may be helpful). Unfortunately, many practitioners concluded erroneously that psychiatric care and vigorous exercise were “the cure” for CFS/ME. Dr. Ellie Stein, a psychiatrist from Calgary, Canada, eloquently addressed this in her introductory remarks.

Stein pointed out that CFS/ME and FM are chronic, heterogeneous conditions that are unlikely to respond to any single approach. It is understandable that both have high rates of psychiatric co-morbidity (such as depressed mood and anxiety), yet neither is considered a psychiatric disorder. Since no medication is known to cure CFS/ME or FM, behavioral interventions are a reasonable consideration.

The earliest CBT/GET programs were based on the false assumptions that avoidance of activity, illness severity, increased attention to symptoms, and autonomic arousal (“hyper,” or hyper-excitable behavior) were causing or perpetuating symptoms, when in actuality they were the result of the illness. Of seven controlled studies using early CBT techniques, only 4 were positive and most were inconclusive or poorly done.

Five studies of graded exercise in CFS/ME showed a modest decrease in fatigue, but improvement in pain, sleep, autonomic, immune, and cognitive symptoms have not been shown.

It has long been suspected that persons with “pure FM” (i.e., less fatigue and cognitive dysfunction) can exert more easily, and several studies have shown temporary improvement in pain and quality of life, but many effects have worn off within a year. CBT has not been proven helpful in “pure FM.”

No study has measured the effect of CBT or exercise in the severely ill.

Stein points out that CBT and GET don’t work well because many patients do not have dysfunctional illness beliefs, many are already functioning at maximum activity levels, and the exercise makes some people worse! She recommends “The Stanford Model,” a program for persons with chronic illness that is based on education, encouragement, and shared responsibility between patient and professional. The Stanford Model addresses low level exercise, cognitive symptom management, nutrition, energy and sleep management, the use of medication and community resources, managing emotions, and dealing with health care professionals. This program has proven success in MS, rheumatoid arthritis, and other chronic illnesses. Dr. Pat Fennell has also developed a proprietary chronic illness approach, based on her proposed Four Phases of Coping in CFS/ME. This model encourages patients to collect data, take control of symptoms, grieve losses, and search for a new identity. Comment: Dr. Bruce Campbell’s CFIDS and FM Self Help Book and his online CFIDS and FM Self Help Course (both available at www.cfsselfhelp.org) are based on the Stanford Model, and highly recommended! Patricia Fennell’s books are available from Barnes & Noble and other booksellers.

Stein went on to point out that self-efficacy (that is, the perceived ability to control illness) and acceptance of illness are both associated with positive physical and psychological outcomes. Therefore, CBT and GET are the most studied behavioral interventions, but results are short lived and many do not benefit. Stein urges alternative approaches such as the Stanford Model that are more patient friendly and have a good record of success.

Professor Fred Friedberg (Stony Brook University) presented a short course on CFS/ME and FM to his students, and found that even a brief exposure to factual information about these illnesses led to more favorable attitudes by fourth year medical students. Two points that students endorsed strongly were, “It is important for physicians to understand CFS,” and “Patients are [NOT] to blame for their illness.”

Pediatric Session

Although CFS/ME is known to occur in children and adolescents, pediatricians have been hampered by the absence of a case definition for children. The adult research definition (Fukuda, et al. Annals of IM, 1994) traditionally has been used, but children have age-specific issues and generally report different symptoms than adults. With this problem in mind, the IACFS developed the Pediatric Case Definition Working Group (Drs. Jason, Bell, DeMeirleir, Gurwitt, Jordan, Lapp, Miike, Torres-Harding and Van Hoof) to study the problem. For more than a year the committee studied various approaches to diagnosis, and developed a new definition, questionnaires, and a scoring sheet for pediatricians. This new definition combines the best aspects of the Fukuda definition with the best aspects of the Canadian Clinical Definition of ME/CFS (Carruthers, et al, JCFS 11(1):7-115, 2003), and has produced two questionnaires with queries that are age-appropriate (for under 11 years old, and 11-18 years old).

To establish a diagnosis of pediatric CFS/ME the following five symptom categories must be satisfied:

• Post-exertional malaise

• Unrefreshing sleep, or a disturbance of sleep quantity or rhythm

• Myofascial, joint, abdominal, or headache pain

• Two or more neurocognitive manifestations; and

• At least one symptom from two of the following three categories: (1) autonomic manifestations, (2) neuroendocrine manifestations, or (3) immune manifestations.

It is hoped that this pediatric case definition will lead to more appropriate identification of children and adolescents with CFS/ME. An article on the development and use of the definition will appear in the Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome shortly. 

Elke Van Hoof (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) reported on how adolescents with CFS/ME perceive their social environment. She studied 27 Belgian adolescents (mean age 16 + 3 years), three-quarters of whom were female. Onset of illness was sudden in 48% of cases, and it took about 1½ years to receive a diagnosis. Only 22% were able to attend school full time, and more than half (52%) reported conflicts in school. One third (33%) got help from a teacher or classmate in order to keep up, 82% had to skip classes frequently, and 70% got failing grades. Forty percent were involved in extracurricular activities once in a while, but 48% experienced no activities outside of school. Van Hoof concluded that CFS/ME in adolescence can lead to social isolation, grades that fall below true capability, and poor attendance at school. Thus the adolescent with CFS/ME is vulnerable to a poor self image and low self efficacy.

Poster Presentations

Each year dozens of prospective papers are submitted to the scientific review committee for consideration. Typically the best papers are presented to the entire assembly, and less solid studies are relegated to “posters” in a side room or along the walls of the auditorium. This year the quality of papers was so good that several poster authors were asked to give a brief summary of their findings to the assembly.

C. Lennartsson of the Karolinska Institute (Sweden) confirmed previous reports that low level interval training is well tolerated in CFS/ME. She was followed by Mark Van Ness (University of the Pacific) whose exercise physiology group measured metabolic and immune responses to exercise. They confirmed that maximum aerobic capacity (VO₂ peak) was reduced in PWCs compared to sedentary controls (24.3 ml/min/kg compared to 31.4), and the oxygen capacity at the Anaerobic Threshold was also reduced. They introduced a new measure, ∆VO₂ / ∆ workload that is also much lower in PWCs than controls (7.7 in CFS/ME compared to 8.9 in controls, where <8 is clearly abnormal). Serum lactate was elevated in PWCs, suggesting an abnormally early shift to anaerobic metabolism.

Pat Fennell (CEO of Albany Health Management) described a paradigm shift that she is seeing in the patient population, namely a shift from acute care to chronic care needs. She briefly discussed her Four Phase Model and the Wagner model of chronic illness management. She urged providers to focus on whether the patient is responding to therapy; whether psychological support is needed; whether disability was inevitable; and whether interventions were appropriately matched to the phase of illness.

Garth Nicholson hypothesized that mitochondrial function is reduced in CFS/ME, and that replacement of essential mitochondrial lipids could improve mitochondrial function and reduce reactive oxygen species in the patient. In two studies, patients treated with glycophospholipids and “good” bacteria (NTFactor ™) reportedly achieved up to a 43% reduction in fatigue.

Daniel Blockmans (Leuven, Belgium) reported a randomized placebo controlled crossover study of methylphenidate (Ritalin™), 20mg daily, in 60 PWCs. Subjects received either stimulant or placebo for 4 weeks, then treatment was crossed for another 4 weeks. Using the SF-36, the Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale, and visual analog scales for pain, cognition, fatigue and other symptoms, Blockmans showed that stimulant medication improved fatigue and concentration significantly in 17% of cases. F. Garcia-Fructosa (Cl’nica CIMA, Barcelona) also provided a poster on the effect of modafanil (Provigil™, another type of stimulant) in PWCs. Modafanil was able to reduce daytime sleepiness by an average of 25% in 31 PWCs. However, 65% of patients reported some adverse effects (mostly anxiety, panic, irritability or palpitations), and 5 had to withdraw from the study. The drug did not interfere with sleep, however. Comment: We have also noted that PWCs with hypersomnolence and/or excessive daytime sleepiness respond very well to stimulant medications. Some report improvement in concentration and focus as well. In our experience adverse effects are usually mild if patients start with a low dose and build up slowly.

Staci Stevens (Workwell, University of the Pacific) used the SF-36 survey to monitor post-exertional malaise after 10 minutes of exercise on a bicycle ergometer. Although patients and controls had similar results before exercise and 7 days afterward, it took controls only 1 day to recover, while no PWCs had recovered in 2 days and 50% required 5-6 days to recover.

Kenny DeMeirleir (Vrije Universeteit Brussels, Belgium) reported that 20-25% of Belgians typically suffer with lactose and fructose intolerance, respectively, whereas 71% of PWCs have intolerance to fructose (fruit sugars, beans, cauliflower, cabbage, and yes, brussel sprouts). Lactose intolerance was similar (20%) in PWCs and the general population.

Jonathan Kerr (St. George’s University, London) has done extensive genomic and proteomic studies in PWCs. This time he reports on miRNA – short non-coding RNA sequences that are produced in the nucleus, migrate to the cytoplasm, and regulate translation (cellular protein production). Studying 15 PWCs and 30 controls, Kerr found 4 unique miRNAs in PWCs.

Paul Cheney reported that PWCs demonstrate evidence of diastolic dysfunction by tilt-echocardiography. This seems to confirm his previous finding of diastolic dysfunction on impedence cardiography, and is consistent with known deficiencies of mitochondrial or cellular energy in patients with CFS/ME and FM. Comment: Our office has obtained impedance cardiograms on at least 8 PWCs, and have seen only trivial diastolic dysfunction, a condition that is reported in even healthy individuals. Confirmatory echocardiography in several subjects (but not tilt-echocardiography) has demonstrated NO significant abnormalities.

Genetic / Proteomics Session

Suzanne Vernon, Human Genomics Team Leader at the CDC, defines genomics as the study of function and interactions of genetic material in the genome, including interactions with environmental factors. Genetics on the other hand is the study of a single gene. She then described several gene profiling techniques such as microarrays, gene chips, and RT-PCR. Such advanced techniques are used by the CDC and other to unravel the CFS puzzle.

One of the most helpful techniques recognizes fine variations in the gene, known as Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms or SNPs (pronounced “snips”). For example, a health gene sequence of nucleotides may look like this to a geneticist: TGCCGAT… An abnormal gene may look like: TTCCGAT… That one small change is referred to as a SNP and can be used: (1) to understand who is predisposed to CFS/ME, (2) as a marker for the illness, or possibly (3) as a clue to a treatment.

Certain polymorphisms are associated with specific groups. For example, Vernon and her group have been able to identify normal healthy patients, persons with general fatigue, and PWCs just on the basis of specific polymorphism patterns. PWCs have then been subclassified into several distinct, genetically defined groups.

CFS/ME is difficult to study, however, because it does not appear to be controlled by a single gene, and the genes change over time (i.e. they are “epigenetic”).

Proteomics is the study of intracellular proteins, particularly their structures and functions. While the genome is a rather constant entity, the proteome differs from cell to cell and is constantly changing through its interactions with the genome and the environment.

Genetic Profiles in Severe Forms of FM and CFS was presented by Estibaliz Olano. She and her colleagues at Progenika Biopharma (Barcelona) hypothesized that persons with CFS and FM could be differentiated genetically. From a pool of 2000 subjects they assessed 186 women with FM and 217 women with CFS/ME. These subjects were stratified by special questionnaires into “severe” or “mild-to-moderate” cases. SNP profiling was able to discriminate the severe cases from less severe cases of CFS/ME. These SNPs were related to 6 major genetic areas that fit the clinical understanding of CFS/ME:

• COMT, THP, DOPA, 5HT (these genes control neurotransmitters)

• POMC (produces adrenocorticotropin, melanotropes, and melanocyte-stimulating hormone)

• Glucocorticoid and corticotrophin receptors

• Interleukins (cytokine production)

• NOS (nitrous oxide production)

• TNF (more cytokine production)

Also 15 SNPs were identified that separated PWCs from persons with FM with 53% sensitivity and 95% specificity.

Comment: This work by a commercial lab in Spain is consistent with findings from the CDC (see below) and other genomic studies. Such corroboration makes it more likely that genomics can help us understand CFS/ME/FM, and perhaps will provide a marker for these illnesses.

M.S.Rajeevan reported results from one of the CDC genomic studies. This concluded that SNPs link CFS/ME to HPA axis dysregulation, immune dysfunction, and high levels of allostatic load (that is, chronic stress). 137 subjects were selected from the CDC’s Wichita Hospital Study, and these individuals were able to be differentiated into 5 unique classes. Five genomic markers for glucocorticoid receptors were more common in PWCs than in persons with chronic fatigue alone and those who were not fatigued; there were 3 serotonin receptor markers that were associated with CFS as opposed to chronic fatigue or non-fatigued individuals.

James Baraniuk (Georgetown University, Washington DC) studied the proteomics of CFS/ME. He defined a proteome as “a set of proteins in one cell, compartment or person.” His hypothesis was that Central Nervous System dysfunction was common in CFS, FM, and Gulf War Syndrome, so abnormal proteins would probably appear in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). He studied the CSF of 52 subjects, most of whom met international criteria for CFS/ME.

In his first experiment, 10 proteins were identified as shared between CFS/ME and GWS, but totally absent from healthy individuals. The second experiment demonstrated that keratins (which are rare) and orosomucoids were seen in PWCs, but not in controls. Ten proteins found in the first cohort of PWCs matched the protein abnormalities in the second cohort. Baraniuk estimated that the chance of this occurrence was about one in one million!

Baraniuk found proteomic evidence for: protease-anti-protease imbalance, structural injury, oxidant injury, vascular deregulation, leptomeningeal activation, and structural repair. In conclusion, the common “CFS-related proteome” in cerebrospinal fluid suggests shared pathophysiology in CFS, FM, and GWS. This proteome is NOT found in healthy control samples.

Lastly, Frederick Albright (University of Utah) used genealogy to provide evidence of a heritable contribution in CFS/ME. The Mormon genealogy database includes 2.2-million Utah Mormon pioneers and their descendants over 10 generations, and health records have been linked to the genealogy since 1994. Thus it is possible to follow the inheritance of CFS over at least 16 years. Albright identified 551 descendents with CFS (65% female, 35% male).

He first hypothesized that if CFS is heritable, it should occur at higher frequency in close relatives of CFS cases. In fact, the risk of a first degree relative contracting CFS was 7.68X, while the risk for a second degree relative was 2.54X. This suggests that CFS is indeed heritable.

The second hypothesis was that if CFS is familial, CFS cases should be more closely related than controls. Using sophisticated analysis, he demonstrated that case-relatedness was 4.13 units and control relatedness was 2.81, which was statistically significant. Thus CFS/ME appears to be familial as well as heritable.

New Methods

One of the most fascinating and practical papers was given by Akikazu Sakudo of Osaka University, where he works with H. Karutsune,Y. Watanabe, and others. Sakudo described using visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (which is typically used to examine fruit for ripeness and quality) to discriminate PWCs from normal healthy controls. Both serum scan and a simple scan of the thumb were obtained and then analyzed using “principal component analysis” (PCA) and “soft independent modeling of class analogy” (SIMCA) statistical techniques. The result was a clear separation of normal healthy persons from persons defined by international (Fukuda or CDC) criteria to have CFS/ME.

Comment: This is like Star Trek! Using a simple handheld gun-like apparatus, Japanese researchers scanned a test tube of serum or simply scanned the patient’s thumb, and immediately the Vis-NIR Spectroscope could predict whether or not the patient had CFS/ME. This technique takes less than one second to perform, and requires no skill on the part of the examiner! Although the spectroscope identified 100% of healthy individuals and 42 of 45 PWCs (93%), it is not known yet if the technique can separate PWCs from persons with other illnesses like MS, rheumatoid arthritis, and depression. If successful, this relatively inexpensive (US $3000-8000) and harmless device could provide rapid definitive diagnosis and finally silence the skeptics. [Thank goodness Vir-NIS spectroscopy can’t treat, or I might be put out of a job by a machine!]

Viral and Immune Interactions

Viral infections have long been suspected as the cause of CFS/ME, but no infectious agent has ever been identified. A related viewpoint is that a virus may trigger CFS/ME, but then an abnormal biochemical change perpetuates the illness. This has been referred to as the “hit-and-run theory.” Ron Glaser (Ohio State University) examined another possibility, that latent viruses (or even parts of viruses) could be producing abnormal proteins within the cells of our patients, causing immune dysregulation, cytokine production, and inefficient T-cell or NK-cell function. Viruses (or parts of viruses) can induce cells to manufacture proteins and enzymes, some of which may be injurious to the call. Glaser’s group injected into mice an enzyme (dUPTase) that is encoded by the EB virus. Immune function and behavior were then monitored. Lymphocytes in the injected mice were less able to replicate, and the treated animals lost weight, had elevated temperatures, and were slow-moving.

Glaser’s group also elegantly demonstrated that stress and age affect latent virus activation. Geriatric patients, for example, had much higher titers of antibodies to Epstein-Barr Early Antigen (EA) and Capsid IgG (VCA-IgG) than young adults. And when antibody titers were measured in young students at various times during the school year, titers were noted to rise as much as four-fold during exam periods, and drop to more moderate levels during Summer vacation. Comment: This is no surprise to anybody who has experienced the recurrence of herpetic mouth ulcers or recurrent shingles (zoster) following periods of stress. The point, however, is that latent viruses (like VZV, EBV, and HHV6) can reactivate during periods of stress, causing immune changes and even symptoms of illness. Since EBV is an oncogenic virus, Glaser raises concerns that such reactivation could conceivably cause B-cell lymphomas. To my knowledge the latter has not been confirmed in CFS/ME.

One question that arises frequently is, “Which test should we use to detect chronic reactivation of viruses such as HHV6 and EBV?” Dharam Ablashi (HHV6 Foundation, Nevada) pointed out that viral re-activation is more closely associated with CFS/ME than just titers of latent antibodies. He examined several techniques for measuring viral presence. Qualitative PCR on whole blood did not differentiate between active and latent infection, and there was too little virus in serum to make this assay useful. Active infection can be inferred by quantitative PCR, serum nested PCR, and analysis of cytopathic effect, but these techniques are difficult, expensive, and not readily available to clinicians. On the other hand, Ablashi provided evidence that highly elevated titers (>1:320 or 1:640) of commercially available IFA assays for IgG can be used to identify patients suspected of having active infection. Comment: Now we know that high titers of EBV or HHV6 IgG are likely due to reactivation, and possibly amenable for antiviral therapy.

Susan Levine (private practice in NY City) and others measured IgG levels to HHV6 and early antigen titers of EBV in persons with CFS/ME. 45% of PWCs had titers of >1:320 to EBV and 35% had titers of >1:320 to HHV6, whereas none of 11 controls had such elevated titers. This suggests that a subset of PWCs suffer from chronic infections with EBV and/or HHV6.

Cytokines are immunologically-based chemicals that can cause viral symptoms such as fever, sore throat, swollen glands, achiness, etc. Brian Gurbaxani (CDC, Atlanta) described a simple but helpful study that demonstrated increased levels of one pro-inflammatory cytokine, Interleukin 6 (IL6), in PWCs. His group demonstrated that increased levels of IL6 were proportionate to CFS/ME symptom severity, but also correlated with waist-to-hip ratio (one measure of allosteric load, or “stress”) and C-reactive protein (CRP), which is a marker of inflammation. This finding supports the hypothesis that an ongoing inflammatory process could be contributing to CFS symptoms.

John Chia (EV Med Research, California) reported on enterovirus infections in PWCs with GI distress. Enteroviruses (a genus of RNA viruses that includes echovirus, coxsackie virus, and poliovirus) have been reported in CFS/ME patients by the British, but have not been explored much in the US. Chia obtained gastric biopsies on 108 PWCs with upper gastrointestinal complaints plus 12 normal healthy subjects and 9 subjects with other GI disorders. 100 of the patient biopsies revealed at least mild chronic inflammation, of which 5 demonstrated infection with H.pylori. Eighty-six (86/108=80%) were positive for the VP1 (enteroviral capsid protein), while only 2/21 (10%) of controls were positive. Enteroviral RNA was detected in 5 of the 15 biopsy specimens studied (33%). Thus enteroviral infections may play a role in a subset of PWCs with upper gastrointestinal complaints.

While the evidence is not as compelling as with other infectious organisms, Garth Nicholson (Institute for Molecular Medicine, Calfornia) and colleagues continue to report positive PCR results for Mycoplasma species in PWCs and Gulf War Syndrome victims.

Additional Posters

Tae Park (Seoul, South Korea) reported once again on his remarkable success in treating PWCs with one gram of intravenous gamma globulin weekly for 6 months. In addition Park attends to diet, sufficient salt and water intake, regular exercise, and sleep management. He reported on 50 patients (28M, 22F), all of who were severely ill and disabled with CFS/ME. Twenty-five of the 28 males improved enough to return to work (Karnofsky Performance Score from 40 to 90; Fatigue Impact Scale from 120 to 20-40). Eighteen of 22 females remarkably improved also (KPS 40 to 80; FIS 125 to 40-50). Comment: Four major studies using IVGG for the treatment of CFS/ME have shown variable results – two were successful, two were not. Park has abundant and continued success with his regimen, but possibly his adjunctive therapy or regular IV fluid administration contributes to some of his success?

Lastly, Jacob Teitelbaum (Annapolis Research Center, Maryland) provided a poster on his most recent vogue, d-ribose. Ribose is a sugar (not at all like table sugar!) that is used by the cell and specifically by the mitochondria in the production of energy. Other studies have suggested that d-ribose supplementation may improve cellular energy in heart and skeletal muscles. Teitelbaum’s pilot study included 41 PWCs who took 5 grams of d-ribose thrice daily for about two weeks. Using visual analog scales, 66% of the patients reported significant improvement during the study, with an average increase of 42% in energy and 30% in well-being. Comment: If confirmed, this is great news! I am concerned, however, over the short treatment period, which is well within the placebo effect range. Also, subjective improvement is one thing, but do any objective parameters improve? Teitelbaum states that a randomized controlled trial is underway, so perhaps we will find out soon.

Conclusions

This was an excellent and exciting meeting, perhaps the best CFS/ME conference yet. Information was so overwhelming that two weeks later I am still trying to sort it out!

It is clear from the number and quality of papers submitted that CFS/ME research is beginning to thrive, and that several other nations now rival the US in this field. Particularly productive this year were Japan, Belgium, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Two salient events during the conference were the IACFS vote to change the name to CFS/ME, and the introduction of the Pediatric Case Definition. I am sure that these recommendations will have both profound and positive consequences.

There were several themes that ran through the conference:

• Researchers are looking more at specific symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and sleep, rather than the syndrome as a whole.

• Genomics and proteomics are clearly confirming previous theories of pathophysiology, and look hopeful as a means toward a marker for the illness, clues as to causation, and a way of subtyping subjects.

• As research becomes “deeper” or more molecular the differences between CFS/ME and FM are more distinct.

• The importance of subtyping is more recognized. At this time many researchers consider such subtypes as male/female, acute/insidious onset, severity, and whether fibromyalgia is present or not.

• The Center for Disease Control is strongly encouraging specific instruments for documenting symptoms, function, and compliance with the Fukuda Criteria, but these are not yet widely used. As a result, it is not clear what is meant when an author states that his subjects “meet international (or CDC) criteria.”

• And clearly the concept of viruses or latent infections as perpetuators of CFS/ME are back in favor.

So what have I learned personally that will aid me in diagnosis and treatment?

• First of all, I will recommend testing for elastase, RNaseL, C-reactive protein, selected cytokines, and NK Cell Activity, because they are objective markers of pathophysiology and severity, and they can monitor response to therapy.

• I will recommend a test-retest approach to cardio-pulmonary exercise testing, because it confirms for disability purposes reduced functional capacity as well as post-exertional malaise.

• I will recommend more overnight sleep studies because a majority of PWCs and PWFs have treatable sleep disorders that can be identified and monitored only by polysomnography.

• I will encourage a more multi-disciplinary approach, especially supportive counselors for those who are deeply depressed or catastrophizing

• I will look for lipid abnormalities and evidence of metabolic syndrome in our patients, and address these problems more aggressively.

• I will recommend exploration of chronic illness models (such as Bruce Campbell’s Self Help Course) as a means for group counseling and support.

• While graded exercise programs may be too aggressive for many patients, interval exercise and heart-rate-limited exercise programs are safe and effective therapies.

• I will test more for HHV6a and EBV reactivation, and consider cautious administration of valgancyclovir and/or high dose valcyclovir.

• I will be recommending trials of acetyl carnitine, d-ribose, replacement lipids (such as NTFactor™), and antioxidants based on favorable reports presented at this conference.

Charles W. Lapp, MD, Director

Hunter-Hopkins Center, P.A., Charlotte, North Carolina

January 29, 2007

The above information reflects the personal opinions of the author only, and is not meant to be an exact or exhaustive review of the IACFS conference. This material is copyrighted, but may be reprinted with permission of the author and with appropriate credit. Contact drlapp@drlapp.net . (© 2007)