title: Markers of viral infection in monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue syndrome.
abstract: To estimate the prevalence of viruses associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and to control for genetic and environmental factors, we conducted a co-twin control study of 22 monozygotic twin pairs, of which one twin met criteria for CFS and the other twin was healthy. Levels of antibodies to human herpesvirus (HHV)-8, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, and hepatitis C virus were measured. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for viral DNA were performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cell specimens to detect infection with HHV-6, HHV-7, HHV-8, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, JC virus, BK virus, and parvovirus B19. To detect lytic infection, plasma was tested by PCR for HHV-6, HHV-8, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus DNA, and saliva was examined for HHV-8 DNA. For all assays, results did not differ between the group of twins with CFS and the healthy twins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. dedra@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Koelle
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barcy
authors.forename: Meei-Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Rhoda L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corey
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zeh
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashton
authors.forename: Dedra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buchwald
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral