https://phoenixrising.me/archives/5806 I came across this post as it had been " bumped" up. Does anyone know if there has been any further development of this theory?
Yes, Dr William Pridgen has adopted this idea of a herpesvirus infection in the dorsal root ganglia (and possibly in other nerve ganglia) as the basis of his theory for the cause of fibromyalgia. He believes his theory might apply to ME/CFS also. Though he thinks it is more HSV-1 infection than VZV infection that is the issue in these ganglia. Pridgen's treatment protocol involves combining two drugs that fight HSV-1: famciclovir plus celecoxib. He has completed a successful phase II clinical trial using this protocol for fibromyalgia, and is now looking at a phase IIII trial. And I know he is also testing whether his protocol might work for ME/CFS patients. Articles about Dr Pridgen's work here and here.
Interesting article. Thanks @Hip for your comment. The hypothesis - a herpes virus (Varizella Zoster) in the root ganglia - would fit the autopsy findings in those who died from ME. Wouldn't it?
It would also fit my n=1 observation in a family member who definitely has chronic herpes infections, including Varizella Zoster, where differerent nerves (e.g. the trigeminal one) are affected.
As my daughter had both chickenpox and shingles in primary school, then glandular fever it definately intrigues me.
In the case of ME/CFS patient Sophia Mirza, the autopsy found that 80% of the dorsal root ganglia along her spine were damaged due to ganglionitis (inflammation of the ganglion). However, the cause of that damage was not established (they did not link it to herpesvirus infections), but it is known herpesviruses can infect these ganglia.
