Coxsackie B viruses and myalgic encephalomyelitis

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Immunology
• Neurology

Background:

• Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a complex, disabling illness.
• Psychological distress is a recognized feature of ME.
• Coxsackie B viruses (CBV) have been implicated in ME pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between Coxsackie B virus (CBV) infection and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).
• To determine the prevalence of CBV antibodies in patients with ME compared to healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Testing psychiatric patients and ME patients for neutralizing antibodies to CBV.
• Utilizing a newly developed CBV IgM ELISA test to detect recent or active CBV infections.
• Comparing CBV antibody titers in ME patient groups with 'well' control groups.

Main Results:

• 12.5% of psychiatric patients exhibited significantly raised CBV antibody titers, with the highest prevalence (21%) in the 30-39 age group.
• 37% of adult ME patients and 38% of ME children tested positive for CBV IgM, indicating recent or active infection.
• Control groups showed significantly lower CBV antibody positivity rates (4-5% for neutralizing antibodies, 9% for IgM).

Conclusions:

• Elevated CBV antibody levels in ME patients suggest a significant association between CBV infection and the illness.
• The CBV IgM ELISA test is a valuable tool for identifying recent or active CBV infections in ME.
• Further research combining ELISA and virus probe techniques is needed to fully understand CBV's role in ME.