title: Fatigue syndromes: new thoughts and reinterpretation of previous data.
abstract: Recently, the author has identified 19 patients who have complained of marked fatigue that had abnormal responses to copper test bracelets or necklaces. At this time, 8 have been shown to have at least one enzyme deficiency in the heme pathway. These patients have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome and other non-specific diagnoses. A lengthy but still limited review of the literature was performed regarding the following conditions: multiple sclerosis (MS), hepatic porphyria (HP), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and paralytic polio (PP). The text will focus on similar epidemiologies, laboratory findings and clinical courses. Copper as a common but not unique etiologic agent will be discussed; as will the heme pathway, a biologic process that may be disordered in all.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Health Sciences University, School of Dentistry, Portland 97201.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Downey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003300:Copper / Q000009:adverse effects; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000209:etiology; D017094:Porphyrias, Hepatic / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D003300:Copper