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“These results show objective endpoints, subset selection, and recovery. There were complete responders and partial responders among severely ill CFS patients with HHV6 or CMV. These are encouraging results for this subset and further well-designed trials should be pursued to confirm them.” Dr. Dan Peterson
By Cort Johnson
April 9, 2013
More: http://simmaronresearch.com/2013/04...mecfs-patients-with-hhv6-and-hcmv-infections/
By Cort Johnson
April 9, 2013
At the HHV6 Conference in Paris, France today Dr. Peterson reported on the results of a retrospective study following 65 severely ill chronic fatigue syndrome patients given a course of Vistide from 2005-2012 for HHV6 and/or HCMV infections. Despite the interest in pathogens in ME/CFS, antiviral studies are rare and this is the first one reported for this drug.
Vistide (Cidofovir) gets a lot less press than other antivirals and immunomodulators (Ampligen, Rituximab, Valcyte, Valtrex) used in this disorder probably because the drug requires a complex infusion protocol, frequent blood tests because of the rare but real possibility of serious kidney side effects and is expensive (although it can be covered by insurance).
This combination – infusions, frequent blood tests and expense – requires close physician follow-up. With Dr. Peterson’s specialized focus on patients with dysfunctional natural killer cells, however, he may be most consistent about testing for herpesviruses, which are known to be active in ME/CFS patients.
After three decades of focusing on immunologically challenged ME/CFS patients, Peterson may be more experienced at pathogen detection and treatment than any other practitioner in the field, and so it’s not surprising to find the first Vistide study coming from his office. In an interview, a former patient of his said, ‘he leaves no stones unturned’; when he finds something he goes after it ‘aggressively’.
In his presentation he stated almost 30% of his patients test positive for HHV-6 or human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) (PCR, rapid culture, antigenemia), and a whopping 50% test positive for Epstein-Barr virus (EBNA).
Serious Drug For A Serious Illness
Vistide (Cidofovir) is FDA approved for the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in patients with AIDS. (Cytomegalovirus is a member of the herpesvirus family.) and it’s been used off-label to treat human papillomavirus, BHK virus, herpes simplex virus, vaccinia virus infections. The Black Box warning on Vistide speaks for itself:
’Cases of acute renal failure resulting in dialysis and/or contributing to death have occurred with few as one or two doses of Vistide. The “recommended dose, rate, frequency of Vistide injections must not be exceeded.”
[...]
Wrap Up
In a retrospective study Vistide proved to be effective in treating severely ill ME/CFS patients with HHV6 and HCMV infections. Dr. Peterson called for double-blinded, placebo-controlled studies to further study Vistide’s efficacy and mechanism of effect. The CFI’s pathogen discovery studies due out this year should shed light on what percentage of ME/CFS patients could benefit from Vistide.
A Vistide analogue under development called CMX001 which does not require infusions and does not effect the kidneys could be boon for ME/CFS patients with herpesvirus infections if it is approved by the FDA. CMX001 was given fast-track status by the FDA earlier this year.
More: http://simmaronresearch.com/2013/04...mecfs-patients-with-hhv6-and-hcmv-infections/