Breaking News: ME Researchers discover Major Cause of ME

BREAKING NEWS: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Cause, Mechanism & Diagnostic Test Discovered, Researchers Say
Friday May 29, 2009

This could be the biggest news ever concerning chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS). Prominent ME/CFS researcher Kenny de Meirleir announced that he and his Belgian research team have uncovered a major cause of ME/CFS and a major underlying mechanism of the condition. What's more, he says they've also developed a simple and inexpensive home test kit for ME/CFS.

The Cause & Mechanism

According to Dr. de Meirleir, a major cause of ME/CFS is a high level of the chemical hydrogen sulphate (H2S). H2S can build up after antibiotic use, salmonella infection, or too much mercury exposure.

H2S is a potent neurotoxin that can cause photophobia (fear of light), noise intolerance, mitochondrial dysfunction, a depressed immune system, and an abnormally low white blood cell count. H2S production may be further increased by the interaction of certain bacteria (which previous research links to ME/CFS) and metals in the body.

H2S can lead to changes in liver mitochondria that limit the liver's ability to filter out heavy metals, especially mercury. Mercury is a known neurotoxin that can lead cells to destroy themselves (apoptosis) and interferes with the cells' ability to utilize oxygen.

The Most Disabled

Dr. de Meirleir also says the bodies of those who are most disabled by ME/CFS have begun to develop aberrant prions. Normal prions are harmless proteins, but aberrant prions can cause disease even though they're not viral bacterial or fungal. Prions are believed to be involved in several degenerative brain diseases, including mad cow, Creutzfeldt-Jacob, and possibly some cases of Alzheimer's.

Aberrant prions can spread disease, so this finding could account for reported outbreaks of ME/CFS. About 10% of bedridden patients had high prion levels in their saliva.

The Test

Dr. de Meirleir says the ME/CFS diagnostic test accurately shows whether you have high levels of hydrogen sulphate in your urine. It's a simple color-change test, similar to what's commonly used in home pregnancy tests. It will soon be available from Dr. de Meirleir's company Protea Biopharma.


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