Solve M.E. webinar 27th Aug. with Dr Komaroff: Will COVID-19 lead to ME/CFS in some people?

[Countrygirl]

Solve M.E. webinar: Will COVID-19 lead to ME/CFS in some people?, Thursday, August 27th, 10:00am PT / 1:00pm ET / 6:00pm UK / 7:00pm EU

Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff will be leading a discussion on what is known to date about the connection between COVID-19 and ME/CFS, questions we should be asking, and the research efforts that are forming in response to this unique opportunity to understand post-viral illness.

Sign on here,if you are interested:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8645135981709622286

1. Thu, Aug 27, 2020 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM BST

People with myalgic encephalomyelitis (also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or ME/CFS) commonly report that an infection preceded their chronic illness. A number of viruses have been implicated as triggers of ME/CFS, including previous coronavirus strains (e.g. the 2003 SARS coronavirus outbreak). Now, as the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) sweeps the world, experts predict that a significant number of people will develop post-viral problems that could be lifelong. There are already reports that COVID-19 "long-haulers" still have lingering symptoms, even more than 90 days post-infection. Join Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff for a discussion of what we know so far about the connection between COVID-19 and ME/CFS, questions we should be asking, and the research efforts that are forming in response to this unique opportunity to understand post-viral illness. Ahead of the webinar, be sure to check out Dr. Komaroff's blog post on the Center for Solutions for ME/CFS website: Will There Be a Post-COVID-19 Form of ME/CFS? at https://cfsformecfs.org/2020/05/12/will-there-be-a-post-covid-19-form-of-me-cfs/

 

[ljimbo423]

Thanks @Countrygirl - this will be interesting to follow.

The quote below is from the link you posted- "Will There Be a Post-COVID-19 Form of ME/CFS"?

Coxiella burnetti is Q fever-

In this study, 253 individuals who developed an infection with either Epstein-Barr virus (a DNA virus), Coxiella burnetti (intracellular bacterium), or Ross River virus (an RNA virus) were followed for the next year. The study found that ME/CFS developed in 11% of the people.

The strongest predictor of a “post-infective fatigue syndrome” was the severity of the initial illness, as judged both by symptoms and by laboratory test abnormalities.

In other words, objective and measurable biological abnormalities predicted who would develop ME/CFS. In contrast, people with a past history of psychiatric illness were not more likely to develop ME/CFS.

This is very clear evidence that ME/CFS has a PHYSICAL cause.

 

[Gemini]

Solve M.E. webinar: Will COVID-19 lead to ME/CFS in some people?, Thursday, August 27th, 10:00am PT / 1:00pm ET / 6:00pm UK / 7:00pm EU

One-hour video now posted on Solve's YouTube Channel:

 

[ljimbo423]

One-hour video now posted on Solve's YouTube Channel:

Thanks for posting this. It was an excellent presentation. Anthony Kamaroff is very clear and concise with his explanations!

He said that "studies of long-haulers were underway all over the world, in the U.S., China, U.K, elsewhere".

I think these studies could bring some very important information about ME/CFS to light. These studies in addition to the ongoing research of ME/CFS, will increase the likelihood of important or even crucial findings for us and the long-haulers.

 

[bertiedog]

I am really surprised that nobody apart from Jim has posted a comment regarding this webinar. I thought that Dr Komaroff's comments about the various possibilities as to why Long Covid could be happening could be very relevant to ME/CFS.

The main point that I took away from this very interesting webinar was that the original virus had gone but it had changed the immune system in some as yet unknown way. Is it too simple to think that this is what has happened to the majority of ME/CFS sufferers?

Pam

 

[Rufous McKinney]

The main point that I took away from this very interesting webinar was that the original virus had gone but it had changed the immune system in some as yet unknown way.

I dont think we currently really know the virus has "gone away" in long haul patients. Its possible its living in tissue and wasn't detected.

 

[bertiedog]

I dont think we currently really know the virus has "gone away" in long haul patients. Its possible its living in tissue and wasn't detected.

I am sure this is possible but I would have thought that by now this would have been investigated, otherwise the webinar by Dr Komaroff would have been giving incorrect information. I believe that he is an ME/CFS specialist so he would have known about this theory with regard to ME patients but it would seem he doesn't think its correct? (Just thinking about all the many studies with people like Lipkin and Dr Davis that haven't been able to find any virus in the blood and tissues of ME patients).

Pam

 

[Rufous McKinney]

tissues of ME patients

They rarely look at tissue. Three biopsies of ME brain tissue: found viruses there recently...

 

[bertiedog]

Yes I can understand why!!!

 

[Pyrrhus]

I am sure this is possible but I would have thought that by now this would have been investigated, otherwise the webinar by Dr Komaroff would have been giving incorrect information.

Komaroff has been saying for years that the virus could be a "hit and run" trigger of ME/CFS, in which case the virus is no longer present, or that it could be a persisting viral infection, but that we won't know for sure until more research is done.

Just thinking about all the many studies with people like Lipkin and Dr Davis that haven't been able to find any virus in the blood and tissues of ME patients

Neither Davis nor Lipkin ever tested for viruses in the tissues, only in the blood. Davis only tested for a few DNA viruses, but never tested for any RNA viruses. Lipkin tested for some RNA viruses, but not for all RNA viruses. The problem is that the technology is just not available to test for all RNA viruses or to test for viruses in the tissues.

Yes, there have been many investigations and studies regarding viruses, so it's easy to think that something would have been found by now if it really existed. But the reality is that today's laboratory techniques and noninvasive tissue analysis techniques are incapable of detecting most viruses. So it's not for lack of trying, it's just for lack of technology.

Hope this helps.

 

[ljimbo423]

But the reality is that today's laboratory techniques and noninvasive tissue analysis techniques are incapable of detecting most viruses. So it's not for lack of trying, it's just for lack of technology.

Another possibility is that persistent viral infections are not causing ME/CFS. Even when they have the technology to detect these yet undetectable viruses, they might find it's a dead end.

I personally feel that's what's going to happen.

 

[Pyrrhus]

Another possibility is that persistent viral infections are not causing ME/CFS. Even when they have the technology to detect these yet undetectable viruses, they might find it's a dead end.

That's certainly a distinct possibility!