ME/CFS Australia (SA) Inc: Genetic study finds seven types of CFS

ME/CFS AUSTRALIA (SA) INC

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ME/CFS Australia (SA) Inc supports the needs of sufferers of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and related illnesses. We do this by providing services and information to members.

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Genetic study finds seven types of CFS

Saturday 13 June 2009

The Environmental Illness Resource reports that "geneticists have discovered the biological basis for seven different subtypes of chronic fatigue syndrome which correspond with different symptom patterns in patients."

The article goes on:

For a long time it has been suggested that not all cases of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), are exactly the same and that there are in fact several subtypes of the disease. This view has been based on research findings which have shown for example that some patients have specific immune system or hormonal abnormalities while others do not.

A new study carried out by researchers at St George's Hospital, University of London, now provides genetic evidence that there are indeed variations of the disease and that these influence the symptoms that predominant in individual patients.

The results of the study are due to be officially presented at a ME/CFS conference in Cambridge, England which is being organised by ME Research UK and the Irish ME Trust.

The study involved 55 ME/CFS patients from both the US and UK along with 75 healthy controls. The researchers took blood samples from all participants and carried out genetic analyses.

The full article can be found here.