Enterovirus in ME

According to Dr. Hyde, there have been multiple epidemics, since 1946 to the present, in which an enterovirus has been recovered and associated with development of ME. An enterovirus has a certain structure/mechanism, but there are many types included in enterovirus group (i.e., polioviruses, non-polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses). These outbreaks have been reported from around the world and a majority of them seem to occur in institutional settings such as schools, hospitals, residences and after congested travel or being in close quarters.

Dr. Hyde has personally researched all the outbreaks for decades. In discussing what may cause ME, he brought up the fact that in 1992 The Nightingale Research Foundation had sent 100 blood samples (from 60 gradual and 40 acute onset ME patients) to Drs. Galbraith and Nairn at Ruchill Hospital, Glasgow for enteroviral studies.

50% of acute onset patients were positive for chronic enterovirus infection, but three years later few patients were positive. None of the gradual onset patients were positive.

Dr. John Chia, an infectious disease specialist and Assistant Professor at UCLA in Los Angeles, CA has been finding enterovirus in the biopsied stomach mucosa of ME/CFS patients in 82% of the patients. Currently, there are no significant treatment options for enterovirus, but Dr. Chia is currently testing out some medications.

Dr. Hyde mentioned he had recently spoken with pharmaceutical companies about medications for enteroviruses, but there seems to be nothing currently in the pipeline. He also believes some of the problems lie with the fact that there are no patents on enteroviruses, and therefore no financial motivation.

If by chance you, as a patient, had a stomach biopsy, and it was stored in a paraffin block, not a fixed specimen, you may be able to get 3 slices and have it sent to Dr. Chia for testing. You would have to contact Dr. Chia for information. Specimens stored in a paraffin block will last forever, according to Dr. Hyde.