Chronic Fatigue Syndrome +/- Joint Aches Associated With Parvovirus Antibiodies

Recent study found 41.5% of chronic fatigue cases had abnormal parvovirus antibodies versus 7% of controls and with these antibodies. 73% of the positive CF cases had problems with joint pains. Actual Parvovirus B19 DNA was found in 5.5% of the chronic fatigue cases and in none of controls.

J Gen Virol. 2010 Apr;91(Pt 4):893-7.
Antibody to parvovirus B19 nonstructural protein is associated with chronic arthralgia in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.
Kerr JR, Gough J, Richards SC, Main J, Enlander D, McCreary M, Komaroff AL, Chia JK abstract here

  • 200 cases vs 200 controls
  • ordinary antibodies against Parvovirus B19 in 75% CF cases and 78% of controls
  • abnormal antibodies – anti-B19 NS1 IgG – 41.5% chronic fatigue vs 7% controls P<0.0001
  • “Positivity for anti-B19 NS1 IgG was associated with higher expression levels of the human CFS-associated genes NHLH1 and GABPA.”
  • “As NS1 antibodies are thought to indicate chronic or severe courses of B19 infection, these findings suggest that although the seroprevalence of B19 in CFS patients is similar to controls, the immune control of the virus in these patients may not be efficient.”

Abnormal antibodies has been seen before – with Multiple Sclerosis and Epstein Barr Virus (Mononucleosis):
Arch Neurol. 2006 Jun;63(6):839-44. Epub 2006 Apr 10.
Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis: evidence of association from a prospective study with long-term follow-up.
DeLorenze GN, Munger KL, Lennette ET, Orentreich N, Vogelman JH, Ascherio A. abstract
free article here

  • prospective study – took serum from subjects and froze it – later they analyzed those that developed MS
  • Those with abnormally high levels of antibodies to component EBNA-1 of EBV had a Four fold risk of developing MS later

In a separate MS study, people with high levels of Vitamin D were found to have 1/2 the usual risk – so protective

JAMA. 2006 Dec 20;296(23):2832-8.
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and risk of multiple sclerosis.
Munger KL, Levin LI, Hollis BW, Howard NS, Ascherio A. free article

Comment – It looks like abnormal immune response in some cases leads to persistent virus or abnormal immune antibodies function that can lead to either chronic fatigue or MS. High Vitamin D, with its immune stimulating function, could have been protective. Certain gene types seem particularly susceptible.

Any comments?

Addendum – Off topic but related to Parvovirus B19. It can cause fetal loss in first half of pregnancy and now evidence after 20 weeks  even
see free full Canadian guidelines here:    Parvovirus B19 Infection in Pregnancy
Although they don’t say so, I suggest as women who work with children be check for antibodies against Parvovirus B19 before getting pregnant; and not work with children especially during first half pregnancy.

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