Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a complex disorder that is characterized by a profound amount of fatigue that doesn’t improve with bed rest and gets significantly worse with physical or mental activity. The Center For Disease Control estimates that between 1 and 4 million Americans are impaired with CFS. At least 25% are unemployed or on disability but only ½ have consulted a physician for their illness.
What researchers have found is that the sooner people seek help the faster the illness will begin to resolve. They have also found that 40% of people who do report symptoms of CFS are also found to have previous undiagnosed medical or psychiatric conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease or even substance abuse.
Doctors report that patients experience weakness, muscle pain, impaired memory or mental concentration, insomnia and post-exertional fatigue that lasts for more than 24 hours. Doctors also report that the causes of CFS haven’t been identified and currently there are no specific diagnostic tests available. Combined with the knowledge that there is no test and the symptoms are similar to those of other illnesses care must be taken to assure that the correct diagnosis is made.
The CD19 or Cluster of Differentiation 19, is a human protein that is encoded by the CD19 gene. In other words it is a protein that is told how to act and what to do by the CD19 gene. This specific protein is related to the immune system and more specifically the B cell and follicular dentritic cells. This gene decreases the threshold for stimulation of the cell to react to an antigen, or protein that is foreign to the body.
Researchers have found that the CD19 blood test will help to estimate the extent of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the body. And in a study published by Dr. Uckun researchers found that the CD19 gene plus the IgM cells were deficient in 94% of patients in their study with CFS. It was postulated that it was this immune-deficiency that was in part responsible for symptoms of chronic fatigue. (1)
This also has implications for treatment of the condition. As a result the team used a drug, Leucovorin, a folinic acid derivative, for several months. They found that 81% of the patients reported improvement within two months. Unfortunately, at the conclusion of the study the researchers didn’t perform a cytometry measurement that would have given insight into the clinical efficacy of the drug leaving them only with the functional reports of improvement.
Folinic acid co-enzymes are responsible for several important metabolic functions. These include the formation of DNA and RNA, the formation of heme protein in hemoglobin, formation of amino acids and the formation of glutathione.
The CD19 blood test and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are linked for researchers and physicians to help locate reasons for the symptoms of the condition and to help point the way to potential effective treatments.
References:
(1) Natural Holistic Health: CD19 Blood Test and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
http://www.natural-holistic-health.com/cd19-blood-test-and-chronic-fatigue-syndrome/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cd19-blood-test-and-chronic-fatigue-syndrome
Resources:
Blood: Detailed Studies on Expression and Function of CD19 Surface Determinant by Using B43 Monoclonal Antibody and the Clinical Potential of Anti-CD19 Immunotoxins
http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/content/71/1/13.full.pdf
American Society for Microbiology: Detection of Immunologically Significant Factors for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Using Neural-Network Classifiers
http://cvi.asm.org/content/8/3/658.full
Oxford Journals: Immune Responses Associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/175/1/136.full.pdf
Journal of Translational Medicine: Screening NK-,B-and T-Cell Phenotype and Function in patients Suffering from Chrnic Fatigue Syndrome
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3614537/
Scandainavian Journal of Immunology: Immunological Abnormalities in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndreom
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-3083.1994.tb03511.x/abstract
The American Journal of Medicine: Immunologic Parameters in Chronic Fatigue Sydnrome, Major Depression and Multiple Sclerosis
http://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343%2898%2900165-X/abstract
Arzneimittel-Forschung: Clinical Activity of Folinic Acid in Patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16889122
Neuro Endocrinology Letters: Decressed Expression of CD69 in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Relation to Inflammatory Markers
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17693977
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