Key result
Enteroviral RNA appears in ~24% of muscle biopsies from postviral fatigue syndrome patients.
Why the study?
Enteroviral and Epstein-Barr virus infections have been implicated in the aetiology of postviral fatigue syndrome, but their presence in muscle tissue and mechanisms of persistence remain unclear.
Observational
The study provides evidence of persistent, defective enteroviral or EBV infection in the muscle of a subset of patients with postviral fatigue syndrome.
May support persistent viral infection in a subset of cases; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change clinical practice.
Nucleic acid was extracted from muscle biopsy samples from a series of highly selected patients suffering from chronic muscle fatiguability following a viral infection (Postviral Fatigue Syndrome: PVFS). Samples were examined for the presence of enteroviral RNA sequences or Epstein-Barr (EBV) virus DNA sequences by molecular hybridisation as these two agents have been implicated by retrospective serology in the aetiology of PVFS. We found enteroviral RNA in 24% of biopsy samples and EBV DNA in a further 9% of biopsy samples: no biopsy was positive for both enteroviral RNA and EBV DNA. In addition, in the case of enteroviruses we found that the persisting virus is defective in control of RNA replication as both strands of enteroviral RNA are present in similar amounts: this is unlike the asymmetric synthesis of genomic RNA seen in a productive, cytolytic enterovirus infection. The implications of these data in relation to mechanisms of viral persistence and muscle dysfunction are discussed.
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Cunningham et al. (1991) conducted an observational in Postviral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS). Enteroviral RNA or Epstein-Barr (EBV) virus DNA was evaluated on Presence of enteroviral RNA or EBV DNA in muscle biopsy samples. Enteroviral RNA was detected in 24% and Epstein-Barr virus DNA in 9% of muscle biopsy samples from patients with postviral fatigue syndrome.
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