Summary We have examined the muscle biopsies of 50 patients who had postviral fatigue syndrome (PFS) for from 1 to 17 years. We found mild to severe atrophy of type II fibres in 39 biopsies, with a mild to moderate excess of lipid. On ultrastructural examination, 35 of these specimens showed branching and fusion of mitochondrial cristae. Mitochondrial degeneration was obvious in 40 of the biopsies with swelling, vacuolation, myelin figures and secondary lysosomes. These abnormalities were in obvious contrast to control biopsies, where even mild changes were rarely detected. The findings described here provide the first evidence that PFS may be due to a mitochondrial disorder precipitated by a virus infection. Paywall, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00294431
Yes and look at all the studies listed below it from the 80s... havent read them but... be interesting to get a sense of their quality. @Andy have you read the study? i havent the energy right now but just wondering whether the controls were sedentary or active. If the controls were active people then the results could perhaps just what happens to muscles that arent used much??? Surely that was looked at the time?
Even if they were not the best quality, at the very least they should have been followed up with better quality studies. Why weren't they?
So not specifically sedentary controls. However, they note the type II atrophy, some necrosis and regeneration, which is described in the upcoming Wüst et al paper in LC - increasing post exercise challenge. The metabolic findings on P31 NMR and EM mitochondrial findings are not those of disuse / deconditioning.
This study was discussed years ago on the previous forum. My recollection is that none of Behan's stuff could be replicated elsewhere.
If the NIH study accomplishes nothing else you would think it would be looking at this kind of stuff and hopefully clarify research that was never followed up on. I don't know if that was the case here.
