The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Controversy
Authors: William C. Reeves, Philip E. Pellett, Howard Gary
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1992)

Letters15 August 1992The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ControversyWilliam C. Reeves, MD, MSPH, Philip E. Pellett, PhD, Howard Gary Jr., PhDWilliam C. Reeves, MD, MSPH, Philip E. Pellett, PhD, Howard Gary Jr., PhDAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-117-4-343 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the Editors: Buchwald and colleagues (1) conclude that the chronic fatigue observed in their patients may reflect an immunologically mediated inflammatory process of the central nervous system and may be associated with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). The authors, however, failed to consider organic causes of chronic fatigue for analysis as a separate category and referred to neurologic symptoms without specifying diagnostic criteria. The study also lacked appropriate controls; this was not a cohort study with matched controls, as stated in the abstract, but a case series with variously selected nonmatched controls. Controls were not characterized, and each major comparison...Reference1. BuchwaldCheneyPetersonHenryWormsleyGeiger DPDBSA. A chronic illness characterized by fatigue, neurologic and immunologic disorders, and active human herpesvirus type 6 infection. Ann Intern Med. 1992;116:103-13. LinkGoogle Scholar1. BuchwaldCheneyPetersonHenryWormsleyGeiger DPDBSA. A chronic illness characterized by fatigue, neurologic and immunologic disorders, and active herpesvirus type 6 infection. Ann Intern Med. 1992;116:103-13. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Alexander E. Neuromuscular complications of primary SjÖgren's syndrome. In: Talal N, Montopoulos HM, Kassen S; eds. SjÖgren's Syndrome: Clinical and Immunological Aspects. Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag; 1986:61-82. Google Scholar3. AlexanderBeallGordonSelnesYannakakisPetronas ESBOGN. Magnetic resonance imaging of cerebral lesions in patients with the SjÖgren's syndrome. Ann Intern Med. 1988;108:815-23. LinkGoogle Scholar4. KozachukDeCarliSchapiroWagnerRapaportHorowitz WCMESB. White matter hyperintensities in dementia of the Alzheimer's type and in healthy subjects without cerebrovascular risk factors: a magnetic resonance imaging study. Arch Neurol. 1990;47:1306-10. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. BuchwaldKomaroff WA. Review of laboratory findings for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Rev Infect Dis. 1991;13(Suppl 1):12-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. BuchwaldCheneyPetersonHenryWormsleyGeiger DPDBSA. A chronic illness characterized by fatigue, neurologic and immunologic disorders, and active human herpesvirus type 6 infection. Ann Intern Med. 1992;116:103-13. LinkGoogle Scholar2. FletcherFletcherWagner RSE. Clinical Epidemiology: The Essentials. 2nd edition. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1988:191-2. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Centers for Disease Control Atlanta, GA 30333 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byNeuropsychology of chronic fatigue syndrome: A critical reviewHuman herpesvirus 6THE ROLE OF NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION AND DETECTION IN THE CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORYNeuroimaging in chronic fatigue syndrome.Viruses and Chronic Fatigue SyndromeHuman herpesvirus 6 and human herpesvirus 7 in chronic fatigue syndromeNeurasthenia and Chronic Fatigue: Theory and Practice in Britain and AmericaNeuropsychiatric disease in Sjögren's syndrome: Anti-ribosomal P and anti-neuronal antibodiesSomatoforme Störungen 15 August 1992Volume 117, Issue 4Page: 343-344KeywordsCase seriesCentral nervous systemChronic fatigue syndromeCohort studiesFatigueHuman herpesvirus Issue Published: 15 August 1992 PDF downloadLoading ...