Tag: nested PCR

High prevalence without reactivation of herpes virus 6 in subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disorder of unknown etiology. Some viruses have been associated with CFS etiology, specially herpesviruses, enteroviruses and retroviruses. Some studies suggest an association between human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and CFS. In order to know if there is an active HHV-6 infection in CFS patients we studied the immunologic and virologic status of HHV-6.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with CFS were studied. IgG and IgM anti HHV-6 were determined by indirect immunofluorescence assay. DNA from serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were studied by dot- and Southern-blotting and nested-PCR to detect HHV-6 DNA. HHV-6 RNA from PBMC were amplified by RT(retrotranscription)-PCR.

RESULTS: Ten patients (50%) had IgG anti-HHV-6 in serum but none had IgM anti-HHV-6. Dot-blotting of DNA from 200 microliters of serum and Southern-blotting of 10 micrograms of PBMC DNA were negative. Nested-PCR from sera were negative. Nested-PCR with 1 microgram PBMC DNA were positive in 8 out 20 (40%) and with 5 micrograms PBMC DNA were positive in 16 out of 20 (80%). No viral RNA were detected in PBMC.

CONCLUSIONS: There is a high proportion of CFS patients infected with HHV-6 but with low viral load. Results do not support HHV-6 reactivation in CFS patients.

 

Source: Cuende JI, Civeira P, Diez N, Prieto J. High prevalence without reactivation of herpes virus 6 in subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome. An Med Interna. 1997 Sep;14(9):441-4. [Article in Spanish] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9453750

 

Chronic parvovirus B19 infection resulting in chronic fatigue syndrome: case history and review

Abstract:

The spectrum of disease caused by parvovirus B19 has been expanding in recent years because of improved and more sensitive methods of detection. There is evidence to suggest that chronic infection occurs in patients who are not detectably immunosuppressed.

We report the case of a young woman with recurrent fever and a syndrome indistinguishable from chronic fatigue syndrome. After extensive investigation, we found persistent parvovirus B19 viremia, which was detectable by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) despite the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies to parvovirus B19.

Testing of samples from this patient suggested that in some low viremic states parvovirus B19 DNA is detectable by nested PCR in plasma but not in serum. The patient’s fever resolved with the administration of intravenous immunoglobulin.

 

Source: Jacobson SK, Daly JS, Thorne GM, McIntosh K. Chronic parvovirus B19 infection resulting in chronic fatigue syndrome: case history and review. Clin Infect Dis. 1997 Jun;24(6):1048-51. http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/24/6/1048.long (Full article)