Review False Alarm: XMRV, Cancer, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2024, Coffin and Kearney

Andy

Andy

Senior Member (Voting rights)
Xenotropic murine leukemia virus (MLV)-related virus (XMRV) was first described in 2006 in some human prostate cancers. But it drew little attention until 2009, when it was also found, as infectious virus and as MLV-related DNA, in samples from people suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). This discovery was rapidly followed by efforts of the international research community to understand the significance of the association and its potential to spread widely as an important human pathogen. Within a few years, efforts by researchers worldwide failed to repeat these findings, and mounting evidence for laboratory contamination with mouse-derived virus and viral DNA sequences became accepted as the explanation for the initial findings. As researchers engaged in these studies, we present here a historical review of the rise and fall of XMRV as a human pathogen, and we discuss the lessons learned from these events.

Paywall, https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-virology-111821-125122
 
Even my GP mentioned XMRV to me many years ago. I was quite surprised she brought it up considering she never mentioned anything regarding ME/CFS research.

It was during the time period when pwME were not allowed to donate blood.
 
Mij said:
It was during the time period when pwME were not allowed to donate blood.
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As far as I know we are still not able to donate blood here in the UK.

Which I am fine with, though no one seems to discuss the inconsistency of this with the many people who believe ME is psychogenic.

[added - I meant also to say this inconsistency was previously more significant when the NICE guidelines recommended GET/CBT as curative treatment for ME, at least now the official NHS guidelines are on paper consistent, though many individual services/clinicians are not.]
 
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Still not allowed to donate blood in the UK and still on the grounds of fatigue since 2010.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome : Fatigue​

If you have been diagnosed with any of the below conditions unfortunately you will be unable to donate;

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Syndrome (ME)
Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome
Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (SEID)
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Pleased to see Prof Chris Ponting and team are doing follow up research on their findings of proteins in the blood.

Blood-based biomarkers to aid ME/CFS diagnosis

Researcher Prof. Chris Ponting Institution University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Start date September 2025 Funding ME Research UK with the financial assistance of E M Thompson Background Developing an accurate and reliable diagnostic test for ME/CFS is one of the holy grails of research into...
www.meresearch.org.uk www.meresearch.org.uk
 
Sean said:
Still not allowed to donate blood here in Australia. Which I agree with on precautionary grounds.
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Official Health Department reason given 10 Mar 2010 in parliament included precautionary grounds.


People with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), are not able to donate blood until they have fully recovered. The reasons for this are: first, blood donors need to be in good health, and people with ME/CFS often experience a range of symptoms which could be made worse by donating blood; and second, as the causes of ME/CFS are not currently fully understood, people with the condition are deferred from donating blood as a precautionary measure to protect the safety of the blood supply for patients.
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Interesting that only fatigue is listed now.
 
Peter T said:
As far as I know we are still not able to donate blood here in the UK.

Which I am fine with, though no one seems to discuss the inconsistency of this with the many people who believe ME is psychogenic.

[added - I meant also to say this inconsistency was previously more significant when the NICE guidelines recommended GET/CBT as curative treatment for ME, at least now the official NHS guidelines are on paper consistent, though many individual services/clinicians are not.]
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Maybe we are just scared of giving blood?
 
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