Electron microscopic immunocytological profiles in chronic fatigue syndrome.
Structures consistent in size, shape and character with various stages of a Lentivirus replicative cycle were observed by electron microscopy in 12-day peripheral-blood lymphocyte cultures from 10 of 17 Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients and not in controls. Attempts to identify a lymphoid phenotype containing these structures by immunogold labelling failed and the results of reverse-transcriptase assay of culture supernatants were equivocal. The study was blind and case-controlled, patients being paired with age, sex and ethnically matched healthy volunteers. Prescreening of subjects included the common metabolic and immunological disorders, functional conditions and a virus-screen against hepatitis B and C, Epstein-Barr Virus, Cytomegalovirus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
Holmes
M J
MJ
Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. mike.holmes@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Diack
D S
DS
Easingwood
R A
RA
Cross
J P
JP
Carlisle
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016086:Lentivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged