A new study fails to replicate a well-publicized association.
Researchers in the U.S. recently demonstrated the presence of a retrovirus, xenotropic murine leukemia virus–related virus (XMRV), in a substantial number of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (JW Psychiatry Dec 14 2009). This finding generated much interest and excitement, as it seemed to confirm a viral etiology of a controversial disease. However, a new study has failed to confirm these findings.
The investigators studied a carefully diagnosed cohort of 186 patients with CFS from the U.K. Blood samples were analyzed for proviral DNA sequences of the XMRV provirus and the related murine leukemia virus (MLV). Each analysis included negative and positive controls (i.e., a water sample and a plasmid with full-length XMRV). The researchers…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)