Cytokine profiles in patients with Q fever fatigue syndrome.

[Murph]

J Infect. 2019 Jan 23. pii: S0163-4453(19)30027-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2019.01.006. [Epub ahead of print]
Cytokine profiles in patients with Q fever fatigue syndrome.
Raijmakers RPH1, Koeken V2, Jansen AFM3, Keijmel SP4, Roerink ME5, Joosten LAB6, Netea MG7, van der Meer JWM8, Bleeker-Rovers CP9.
Author information

Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Q fever fatigue syndrome (QFS) is a state of prolonged fatigue following around 20% of acute Q fever cases. It is thought that chronic inflammation plays a role in its aetiology. To test this hypothesis we measured circulating cytokines and the exvivo cytokine production in patients with QFS and compared to various control groups.

MATERIALS/METHODS:
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), whole blood, and serum were collected from 20 QFS patients, 19 chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients, 19 Q fever seropositive controls, and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Coxiella-specific ex-vivo production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and interferon (IFN) was measured, together with a total of 92 circulating inflammatory proteins.

RESULTS:
PBMCs of QFS patients produced more IL-6 (P = 0.0001), TNFα (P = 0.0002), and IL-1β (P = 0.0005) than the various control groups when stimulated with Coxiella antigen. QFS patients had distinct differences in circulating inflammatory markers compared to the other groups, including higher concentrations of circulating IL-6 and IFNγ.

CONCLUSION:
QFS patients showed signs of chronic inflammation compared to asymptomatic Q fever seropositive controls, CFS patients, and healthy controls, of which the monocyte-derived cytokines TNFα, IL-1β, and especially IL-6, are likely crucial components.

Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

KEYWORDS:
CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome; IFNγ; IL-1β; IL-6; Proximity Extension Assay; QFS, Q fever fatigue syndrome; TNFα; cytokines

PMID:

30684502

DOI:

10.1016/j.jinf.2019.01.006

 

[Murph]

I'm calling it: this is what we have just with a better name.

Here's a description of post q-fever syndrome:

https://www.qfever.org/aboutqfever

In recent years it has become apparent that there may be another different, chronic, disabling sequel to acute Q Fever which takes the form of a prolonged debility and fatigue syndrome. This sequel has features in common with the chronic fatigue syndrome thought to follow proven virus infections (eg., Ross River fever, glandular fever) or virus-like episodes in which a viral cause is not established by laboratory tests.

Depending on the stringency of diagnostic criteria, the post Q Fever fatigue syndrome (QFS) follows about 20% of acute Q Fever cases. as it may last for 5-10 or more years the cost to the industry, occupational health insurers and Health Services is considerable.

Patients suffer from an incapacitating fatigue on minor exertion, muscle and joint pains, headaches, profuse sweats, particularly at night, interrupted sleep patterns, altered mental concentration, volatile moods and depression, among other symptoms. Unfortunately, at present, the diagnosis depends almost entirely on the patients' account of symptoms and there are no readily available laboratory tests, such as antibody tests, to confirm the diagnosis. However, several surveys of QFS patients and controls in Australia and the United Kingdom have confirmed the existence of the syndrome as a sequel to acute Q Fever.

If any virus can create a prolonged fatigue state but a lot of them are not being examined under the banner of me/cfs then we should join forces with these sufferers.