XMRV Information - Chronic fatigue syndrome fibromyalgia ME

XMRV is a human retrovirus that Dr. Robert Silverman from the Cleveland Clinic first
identified in prostate cancer tissue of men with a specific genetic defect in their antiviral
defense pathway. XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus) is a human
restrovirus and is similar to HIV and HTLV-1 (a virus associated with a certain type of
lymphoma). Researchers at the Whittemore Peterson Institute (WPI) in collaboration with
the National Cancer Institute and Cleveland Clinic have recently discovered the presence
of XMRV in blood samples from patients diagnosed with ME/CFS and was published in
the October 2009 SCIENCE journal.

This is exciting research and suggests, BUT DOES NOT PROVE, that XMRV may be a
contributing factor in ME/CFS. Much more ADDITIONAL work needs done to understand
how XMRV causes disease and what other diseases are linked to XMRV.

"Researchers at the Whittemore Peterson
Institute (WPI) in collaboration with the
National Cancer Institute and the
Cleveland Clinic have recently discovered
the presence of XMRV in blood samples
from patients diagnosed with ME/CFS..."

STAY INFORMED. THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES ARE RECOMMENDED FOR
ACCURACY. BE VERY CAUTIOUS OF INFORMATION ON BLOG SITES,
FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND ENGINE SEARCHES AS THERE IS AN
ABUNDANCE OF MISINFORMATION.

HTTP://WWW.WPINSTITUTE.ORG
HTTP://WWW.CFIDS.ORG
XANDINFO.ORG

The following web address is a very easy, user-friendly way to
write/e-mail to government officials, committees that oversee different
aspects of ME/CFS, and news media. Besides the usual content of funding,
recommendations to move XAND/CFS/ME out of the current department of
the CDC into infectious diseases/virology and move the CFS advisory
committee (CFSAC) from the Office of Women’s Health to report directly to
the President as the XAND/CFS Council to the President.

HTTP://CAPWIZ.COM/CFIDS/HOME/

It means that XMRV research is in the very early stages and these results are preliminary.
Validation was done on the research portion. Now that clinical/commercial testing is in its
infancy, validation needs repeating. THIS TAKES TIME. There may be regional differences
in results such as from Lake Tahoe versus Fargo. Until this clinical validation takes place,
be CAUTIOUS of any results.

XMRV is thought to be transmitted through body fluids such as blood. NO retrovirus has
ever been transmitted through the air. Sneezing, coughing, or being near someone is not
going to transmit XMRV. All patients with ME/CFS should discuss with their physician
before donating blood, donating organs, or becoming pregnant. The CDC and the blood
safety committee understands the significance and possible implications for XMRV. The
national blood bank is actively and aggressively testing the safety of the blood supply.