Queensland researchers hopeful of Chronic Fatigue breakthrough

[Firestormm]

Queensland researchers hopeful of Chronic Fatigue breakthrough

16 May 2014

Researchers at Griffith University say the discovery of biological markers means they're on the cusp of a breakthrough diagnostic test for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Video: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-...opeful-of-chronic-fatigue/5459154?section=qld

Transcript: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-...opeful-of-chronic-fatigue/5459154?section=qld

MATT WORDSWORTH: It can be an incredibly debilitating illness but sufferers have often been maligned as malingerers. Identified in the 1980's Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was labelled yuppie flu. But Queensland Researchers say biological markers show they're on the cusp of a breakthrough. They're hopeful of developing a quick diagnostic test which would eliminate uncertainty and lead to better treatment. Airlie Ward has the details.

(FOOTAGE OF AMITY SLOCKEE LYING ON BED)

AMITY SLOCKEE, CFS SUFFERER: They would do tests and tests would come back negative.

(FOOTAGE OF AMITY SLOCKEE WALKING)

AIRLIE WARD: Watching Amity Slockee walk, it's hard to imagine she was once a vibrant young woman working two jobs.

(MORE FOOTAGE OF AMITY SLOCKEE WHEN HEALTHY)

AMITY SLOCKEE: Up until about 2009 I worked as a kindergarten aid and I also did hospitality work, so they're both quite energetic jobs.

AIRLIE WARD: There had been signs over the past 20 years that not all was well. Despite numerous visits to the doctor the most common diagnosis was depression.

AMITY SLOCKEE: Because none of the testing came back with answers for the doctors you're given that diagnosis of depression but you're also made to feel very much that this is all in your head.

AIRLIE WARD: She suffered from constant and chronic pain that travelled around the body, and stomach and sleep problems.

AMITY SLOCKEE: I got the flu in 2010 towards the end of the year and within a couple of months of that I started noticing that one of my feet was turning in.

AIRLIE WARD: It was to be almost another two years before Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was diagnosed.

DR GREG SCHWARZ, MEDICAL PRACTITIONER: It's often not diagnosed, partly because there is no test for it, there are diagnostic criteria and they're available but often people are simply told they're depressed or it's just ignored.

AIRLIE WARD: Because the illness is often multi-faceted Dr Greg Schwarz says it is difficult to diagnose and treat.

DR GREG SCHWARZ: Most doctors are trained to treat problems with medications and there simply aren't the medications for this sort of condition.

AIRLIE WARD: Immunologist Sonya Marshall Gradisnik is leading a team of researchers into the disease at Griffith University in Queensland.

DR SONYA MARSHALL-GRADISNIK, IMMUNOLOGIST: We need to have a proper diagnosis before we can actually have a treatment. It takes between 12 months and maybe two years for a patient to be diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and it's on an elimination process of other symptoms as well as having some common symptoms.

AIRLIE WARD: Dr Marshall Gradisnik is confident of coming up with a quicker diagnosis.

DR SONYA MARSHALL-GRADISNIK: We're finding unique potential bio-markers, those unique potential bio-makers may be developed into a suite or a diagnostic test or screening test.

AIRLIE WARD: Five years ago Dr Gradisnik decided to investigate changes in immune function in chronic fatigue patients, particularly looking at white blood cells and how they fight infection.

DR SONYA MARSHALL-GRADISNIK: And those results turned out to be very promising that is they were unique in their findings and subsequently we've expanded to very large international research projects.

AIRLIE WARD: There are now 400 people involved in the study including healthy people and those with rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

DR SONYA MARSHALL-GRADISNIK: There are cognition problems with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients, we find that there are cardiac associated problems with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients and importantly find that there is immunological changes. And more recently other researchers are also documenting this neuro inflammation in the cerebral spinal fluid and in the brain.

Read more: Links above...

 

[SOC]

Go Griffith!

 

[rosie26]

LoL - me too, Go Griffith !! Sounds great.

 

[alex3619]

Griffith is one of my two universities, though I was at Nathan campus. I really hope they get somewhere. A simple blood test would be ideal as a diagnostic, prognostic or treatment marker.

 

[Bob]

That's a very good video. It portrays ME patients very respectfully.

There's also a radio interview with Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik:

Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, Australia's foremost expert on chronic fatigue syndrome
16 May 2014
http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/...most-expert-on-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-.html

 

[NK17]

That's a very good video. It portrays ME patients very respectfully.

There's also a radio interview with Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik:

Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, Australia's foremost expert on chronic fatigue syndrome
16 May 2014
http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/...most-expert-on-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-.html

AMAZING radio interview to Prof. Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik!!!
The radio host did a great job, the only black spot is when she mentions 'lack of motivation' in the list of symptoms
The Griffith University research team are going to help solve the "mystery" of our illness, but as Prof. Marshall-Gradisnik says Stanford and other teams around the world are converging and doing the much needed biomedical research.

Thank you @Bob and @Firestormm for posting this seminal updates!

 

[maddietod]

I read the above but haven't watched the video. I just want to say that 'lack of motivation' is absolutely one of my symptoms. I never seem to think "Oh, if only I had the energy, I would do xyz." There is no xyz.

 

[Lynne B]

Hi, all. That's a great video excerpt, Firestormm, very respectful and hopeful. It was shocking to see how badly Amity Slockee's mobility is affected, and I really hope the results from Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik's study will be released soon. Another relevant issue that is heightened by the video is the cost of current treatment, as indicated by the other CFS patient's box of medications.

 

[heapsreal]

Probably one of the better videos and good that immunological side of it was mentioned.

good they didn't show someone asleep in bed like many do.

 

[alex3619]

Hi, all. That's a great video excerpt, Firestormm, very respectful and hopeful. It was shocking to see how badly Amity Slockee's mobility is affected, and I really hope the results from Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik's study will be released soon. Another relevant issue that is heightened by the video is the cost of current treatment, as indicated by the other CFS patient's box of medications.

I recognized some of those meds. Its also the case that most of what we are taking is not subsidized by insurance or otherwise, and we pay full cost, which in Australia can be up to 5 x what is paid in the US. There is a reason many of us order from overseas.