starryeyes
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Over in the XMRV UK test thread oerganix wrote:
"The 7 subtypes are:
* Subtype 1
This is one of the more severe subtypes. Effects are cognitive, musculoskeletal, sleep-related and anxiety/depression.
* Subtype 2
This is one of the more severe subtypes. Effects are musculoskeletal, pain and anxiety/depression.
* Subtype 3
This subtype has the mildest symptoms.
* Subtype 4
This subtype is dominated by cognitive issues.
* Subtype 5
Effects are musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal.
* Subtype 6
This subtype is dominated by post-exertional malaise (extreme crash after exercise or exertion.)
* Subtype 7
This is one of the more severe subtypes. Effects are pain, infections, musculoskeletal, sleep-related, neurological, gastrointestinal, neurocognitive and anxiety/depression.
Dr. Kerr emphasizes that each subtype is a distinct condition. This is the first study to identify these genomic subtypes and it will need to be verified by more research before the information is put to use in diagnosing or treating people with the disorder.
Other findings:
* Many of the abnormal genes are ones that researchers know can be affected by viral infections, which they believe are a predominant trigger of many ME/CFS cases.
* Drugs that are already on the market for other diseases target five of the 88 genetic abnormalities, meaning potential treatments for some subtypes may already be available.
* The team is now looking into whether the abnormal protein levels are detectable in the blood, meaning they'd be considered biological indicators of ME/CFS and could be used for diagnostic tests."
Personally, these subtypes don't resonate with me. I believe he is categorizing people with CFS according to his genomic findings but I don't know if that really translates to real life cases. I'd say many of us start out with milder symptoms which generally progressively get worse but I don't see PWC neatly fitting into these subtypes and these types themselves overlap each other a great deal.
To me, this "research" is very confusing. Personally I don't exactly fit into any of them. The best I can say is that I mostly fit one or another at different times during the 25 years I've had CFS. How about the rest of you?
The Gene Work Continues
While this work is causing such excitement the work of gene expression continues. Of the 88 genes which are abnormal in the CFS/ME group but normal in the control group, associated with distinct differences in their clinical patterns and severity Dr. Kerr found that these genes could be divided into 7 subtypes. What was so interesting was that theses subtypes were . Each of these subtypes had a different list of genes which were abnormal."
Is there a link where one might find what Dr Kerr's 7 subtypes are?
"The 7 subtypes are:
* Subtype 1
This is one of the more severe subtypes. Effects are cognitive, musculoskeletal, sleep-related and anxiety/depression.
* Subtype 2
This is one of the more severe subtypes. Effects are musculoskeletal, pain and anxiety/depression.
* Subtype 3
This subtype has the mildest symptoms.
* Subtype 4
This subtype is dominated by cognitive issues.
* Subtype 5
Effects are musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal.
* Subtype 6
This subtype is dominated by post-exertional malaise (extreme crash after exercise or exertion.)
* Subtype 7
This is one of the more severe subtypes. Effects are pain, infections, musculoskeletal, sleep-related, neurological, gastrointestinal, neurocognitive and anxiety/depression.
Dr. Kerr emphasizes that each subtype is a distinct condition. This is the first study to identify these genomic subtypes and it will need to be verified by more research before the information is put to use in diagnosing or treating people with the disorder.
Other findings:
* Many of the abnormal genes are ones that researchers know can be affected by viral infections, which they believe are a predominant trigger of many ME/CFS cases.
* Drugs that are already on the market for other diseases target five of the 88 genetic abnormalities, meaning potential treatments for some subtypes may already be available.
* The team is now looking into whether the abnormal protein levels are detectable in the blood, meaning they'd be considered biological indicators of ME/CFS and could be used for diagnostic tests."
Personally, these subtypes don't resonate with me. I believe he is categorizing people with CFS according to his genomic findings but I don't know if that really translates to real life cases. I'd say many of us start out with milder symptoms which generally progressively get worse but I don't see PWC neatly fitting into these subtypes and these types themselves overlap each other a great deal.
To me, this "research" is very confusing. Personally I don't exactly fit into any of them. The best I can say is that I mostly fit one or another at different times during the 25 years I've had CFS. How about the rest of you?