• The relationship between Human herpes virus type 1 (HHV-1) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in northeast of Iran
  • mohammad derakhshan,1,* Valiolah Nemati kerimooy,2 Narges Valizadeh,3 reza derakhshan,4
    1. Medical school , Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Mashhad, IRAN
    2. Medical school , Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Mashhad, IRAN
    3. Medical school , Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Mashhad, IRAN
    4. Medical school , Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Mashhad, IRAN


  • Introduction: CFS is a disorder of unknown etiology that probably has an infectious basis. Many studies have been reported elevated serum antiviral antibody titers in patients suffering from CFS; so a viral component in the pathogenesis of this disease has been suggested. Among the variety of viruses evaluated to date, including enteroviruses, retroviruses, and human herpesviruses (HHVs), there is controversial report about HHV-1 and HHV-2 CSF-association. So our goal was to seek out any relationship between CFS and HHV-1 infection.
  • Methods: After a precise medical examination, 48 patients were found to fulfill the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) classification for CFS and 35 individuals were selected as control group. IgG and IgM antibodies to HHV-1 were measured in serum of all samples obtained from patients and control group using ELIZA method.
  • Results: Both patient (93.8%) and control (97.1%) group had positive IgG antibody titer and negative IgM antibody titer (100%). There were not any significant differences (P>0.05) between CFS patient's IgG antibodies (115.8 ± 38.58) versus control (105.78 ± 35.68). Also any significant differences (P>0.05) was not revealed between patient's IgM antibodies (0.42 ± 0.13) and control (0.46 ± 0.13).
  • Conclusion: Our data didn't show any relationship between CFS and HHV-1 viral infection and this was in parallel with a few studies with the same conclusion. CFS is unlikely to be caused or maintained by a single agent. So several strains of HHVs and other viruses could simultaneously infect the body and therefore more studies needs to be done in this field for clarifying the viral infections as etiology of CFS.
  • Keywords: CFS, HHV-1