title: Activation of the coagulation system in Gulf War Illness: a potential pathophysiologic link with chronic fatigue syndrome. A laboratory approach to diagnosis.
abstract: Most symptoms of Gulf War Illness (GWI) are similar to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and/or Fibromyalgia (FM). We investigated whether these symptoms are associated with an activated coagulation system as has been reported in some cases of CFS/FM. The coagulation assays include activation markers of the cascade, platelet activation and hereditary risk factors. Our findings show activation of the coagulation system in GWI. This evidence of a hypercoagulable state suggests that symptoms may be due to poor blood flow and, therefore, a basis for the potential utility of anticoagulant therapy.
authors.affiliation: Osceola Hospital, Kissimmee, Orlando, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hannan
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baumzweiger
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nichols
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D018923:Persian Gulf Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D014728:Veterans
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers