Phoenix Rising: Learning CFS: The Lerner Longterm Antivral Study Succeeds

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Cort Johnson

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May 29, 2010, 9:51:39 PM5/29/10
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Its rare to get good news on the treatment end but Dr. Lerner's latest paper is full of it. The paper analyzes the progress of his patients over the past 10 years who have undergone long-term antiviral treatments for herpesviruses. The results were surprising; Dr. Lerner reported that about  30% of his patients had near or full recoveries, many others returned to normal functioning (ie they were able to work in a sedentary job full time) and about 25% did not respond. Treatment effectiveness was a function of illness duration (yes, it does matter, at least somewhat, how long you been ill) and treatment duration (when he says longterm he does mean longterm - probably at least a year for many patients). The paper also suggested that a significant number CFS patients also have another infection such as Lyme disease that need to be treated for that infection as well. 

 It's an exciting paper - we don't know what percent of patients these therapies apply to - and a rigorously controlled treatment trial is needed to fully assess their effectiveness -  but this paper is very good news for CFS patients in a treatment arena that is often dominated by CBT/GET etc. It should spur more research and, hopefully, federally funded treatment trials.  


XMRV - there's always some XMRV news. Check out 


SockItToMECFS 

Check out the new SockItToME/CFS; a project that blends art with activism to create a Socks display for ME/CFS (aka the AIDS quilt). Take a stand in your stocking feet! Tell the Federal government to stop giving us the cold foot! Help create the SockItToME/CFS exhibit. 


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Cort Johnson

Phoenix Rising  - An ME/CFS Website at http://aboutmecfs.org.
www.iGive.com/PhoenixRising

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