PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - A. MARTIN LERNER
AU  - SAFEDIN H. BEQAJ
AU  - ROBERT G. DEETER
AU  - JAMES T. FITZGERALD
TI  - IgM Serum Antibodies to Epstein-Barr Virus are Uniquely Present in a Subset of Patients with the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
DP  - 2004 Mar 01
TA  - In Vivo
PG  - 101--106
VI  - 18
IP  - 2
4099  - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/18/2/101.short
4100  - http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/18/2/101.full
SO  - In Vivo2004 Mar 01; 18
AB  - Background: A unique subset of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and IgM serum antibodies to cytomegalovirus (HCMV) non-structural gene products p52 and CM2 (UL 44 and UL 57) has been described. Patients and Methods: Fifty-eight CFS patients and 68 non-CFS matched controls were studied. Serum antibodies to EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM and EBV Early Antigen, diffuse (EA, D) as well HVCMV(V), IgM and IgG; VP (sucrose, density purified V); p52 and CM2 IgM serum antibodies were assayed. Results: Mean age of CFS patients was 44 years (75% women). Control patients were 9 years older (73% women). Serum EBV VCA IgM positive antibody titers were identified in 33 CFS patients (Group A subset EBV VCA IgM 62.3±8.3, neg.<20), but were not present in other CFS patients, (Group B subset EBV VCA IgM 6.8±0.7) controls (p<0.0001). EBV VCA IgM titers remained positive in CFS patients from Group A for 24-42 months. Conclusion: Serum antibody to EBV VCA IgM may be a specific diagnostic test for a second subset of CFS patients. Copyright © 2004 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved