Persistent viral infections, particularly infections with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can lead to systemic autoimmune disease. (See: Epstein-Barr Virus in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases)
Among other things, EBV inhibits natural killer cell (NK) function (a common immune system finding in ME/CFS patients) allowing EBV to proliferate and spread to many parts of the body. Each time EBV reactivates, the immune system responds by attacking increasing numbers of cells. Eventually, this process leads to organ degeneration. (Remember, CFS was originally thought to be a chronic EBV infection.)
Autoimmune activity has been documented in ME/CFS. (See: Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome an Autoimmune Disease?) In an important study published in 2009, Hokama et al, found anti-cardiolipin antibodies in the sera of patients with CFS. Anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACA) are formed when immune system cells attack mitochondria. ACA are found in lupus as well as other autoimmune diseases, which may account for the profound fatigue experienced by patients with autoimmune disease.
A number of physicians and researchers, including Dr. Kenny De Meirleir and Michael Maes, have pointed out that chronic infection eventually leads to autoimmunity. Recent research by Peterson et al. on cerebrospinal fluid in ME/CFS patients also indicates the development of autoimmunity in ME/CFS.
Given these strong overlaps, as well as the success of rituximab in treating Norwegian patients with ME, it makes perfect sense that patients with recognized autoimmune disease should share the defining symptom of CFS - fatigue.
Please see these related posts for additional information on autoimmunity and ME/CFS:
Immune Activation, Chronic Inflammation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Autoimmune Disease and ME/CFS
Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome an Autoimmune Disease?
Fluge and Mella on Rituximab and Autoimmunity in ME
ME/CFS: From Infectious Disease to Autoimmune Disorder
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Profound, debilitating fatigue found to be a major issue for autoimmune disease patients in new national survey
Press Release: American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), March 23, 2015. Fatigue described as "profound," "debilitating," and "preventing them from doing the simplest everyday tasks," is a major issue for autoimmune disease (AD) patients, impacting nearly every aspect of their lives. It affects their mental and emotional well-being and their ability to work. And while most AD patients have discussed their fatigue with their physicians, many have not been prescribed treatment for their fatigue.
Those are among the major findings of a new online survey of autoimmune disease patients conducted by the American Autoimmune Disease Related Diseases Association (AARDA), the nation's only not-for-profit autoimmune disease patient advocacy organization, to examine the connection between autoimmune disease and fatigue. AARDA released the findings of the survey of 7,838 AD patients at a national summit held to commemorate National Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Major findings include:
"In this busy, busy world, it's normal to be tired, but the kind of fatigue autoimmune disease patients suffer from is anything but normal," said Virginia T. Ladd, President and Executive Director of AARDA.
"The overwhelming response AARDA received to this survey shows without a shadow of doubt that fatigue is not a 'fuzzy' symptom, it's real. Yet, for too long, it has been ignored and/or misunderstood by the medical community and the public at large. It's time we bring more research funding to this issue to advance understanding and effective treatments for fatigue."
The survey revealed that fatigue has a significant impact on AD patients' mental and emotional well-being. They say it has resulted in increased emotional distress (88 percent), a sense of isolation (76 percent), anxiety (72 percent) and depression (69 percent).
According to one AD patient, "It's difficult for other people to understand our ongoing fatigue when it can't be seen by them. It's so hard just trying to get others to really, really understand how very tired you are sometimes -- even our own doctors don't understand. One wonders if even our doctors may think we are for the most part just mental cases and/or whiners."
Fluge and Mella on Rituximab and Autoimmunity in ME
ME/CFS: From Infectious Disease to Autoimmune Disorder
___________________
Profound, debilitating fatigue found to be a major issue for autoimmune disease patients in new national survey
Press Release: American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), March 23, 2015. Fatigue described as "profound," "debilitating," and "preventing them from doing the simplest everyday tasks," is a major issue for autoimmune disease (AD) patients, impacting nearly every aspect of their lives. It affects their mental and emotional well-being and their ability to work. And while most AD patients have discussed their fatigue with their physicians, many have not been prescribed treatment for their fatigue.
Those are among the major findings of a new online survey of autoimmune disease patients conducted by the American Autoimmune Disease Related Diseases Association (AARDA), the nation's only not-for-profit autoimmune disease patient advocacy organization, to examine the connection between autoimmune disease and fatigue. AARDA released the findings of the survey of 7,838 AD patients at a national summit held to commemorate National Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Major findings include:
- Almost all (98 percent) AD patients surveyed report they suffer from fatigue.
- Nine-in-10 (89 percent) say it is a "major issue" for them and six-in-10 (59 percent) say it is "probably the most debilitating symptom of having an AD."
- More than two-thirds (68 percent) say their "fatigue is anything but normal. It is profound and prevents [them] from doing the simplest everyday tasks."
- While nearly nine-in-10 (87 percent) report they have discussed their fatigue with their doctor, six-in 10 (59 percent) say they have not been prescribed or suggested treatment by their doctors.
- Seven-in-10 (70 percent) believe others judge them negatively because of their fatigue.
- Three-quarters (75 percent) say their fatigue has impacted their ability to work; nearly four-in-10 (37 percent) say they are in financial distress because of it; one-in-five (21 percent) say it has caused them to lose their jobs; while the same number (21 percent) report they have filed for disability as a result of their fatigue.
"In this busy, busy world, it's normal to be tired, but the kind of fatigue autoimmune disease patients suffer from is anything but normal," said Virginia T. Ladd, President and Executive Director of AARDA.
"The overwhelming response AARDA received to this survey shows without a shadow of doubt that fatigue is not a 'fuzzy' symptom, it's real. Yet, for too long, it has been ignored and/or misunderstood by the medical community and the public at large. It's time we bring more research funding to this issue to advance understanding and effective treatments for fatigue."
The survey revealed that fatigue has a significant impact on AD patients' mental and emotional well-being. They say it has resulted in increased emotional distress (88 percent), a sense of isolation (76 percent), anxiety (72 percent) and depression (69 percent).
According to one AD patient, "It's difficult for other people to understand our ongoing fatigue when it can't be seen by them. It's so hard just trying to get others to really, really understand how very tired you are sometimes -- even our own doctors don't understand. One wonders if even our doctors may think we are for the most part just mental cases and/or whiners."