Neurotoxin Discovered In Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

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Neurotoxin Discovered In Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

From National CFIDS Foundation Inc.

Needham, Massachusetts

Contact Information

Gail Kansky 781-449-3535

Jill McLaughlin 978-475-0232

11-24-2

NEEDHAM, MA -- Research sponsored by the National CFIDS

Foundation was formally announced at the International Symposium on Toxins

and Natural Products in Okinawa, Japan on November 17-19, 2002 by Dr.

Yoshitsugi Hokama. The research, for the first time, discovered ciguatoxin,

a potent neurotoxin, in the blood of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients.

" Chronic ciguatera poisoning has already been suggested as a scientific

model for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), " stated Dr. Hokama. Ciguatoxins

are potent, heat stabile, non-protein, lipophilic sodium channel activator

toxins and are recognized as some of the most potent biological toxins

known. They produce dramatic neurological manifestations, such as peripheral

sensory or motor symptoms (including paresthesias, pain, burning, tingling,

numbness), central symptoms such as headache, autonomic dysfunction and also

affect multiple body systems (gastrointestinal, immune, hepatic,

cardiovascular) and the muscles.

Many CFS patients in the study had higher levels of the toxin than the

patients with cancer, hepatitis or acute ciguatera poisoning.

Quantitative assay results range from 1:5, the lowest toxin level, to 1:160,

the highest toxin level. All CFS samples gave titres of at least 1:20, with

the majority of titres from 1:40 to 1:160.

Dr. Hokama presented his preliminary findings in a lecture titled " Acute

phase lipids in sera of various diseases: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,

ciguatera, hepatitis, and various cancer with antigentic epitope resembling

ciguatoxin as determined with Mab-CTX. "

Dr. Hokama is a Professor in the Department of Pathology at the A.

Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He is a

world expert in the area of fish toxins with hundreds of peer reviewed

publications to his credit. Hokama developed the Membrane Immunobead Assay

test for patient sera, using a specific monoclonal antibody for ciguatera

toxin (Mab-CTX). His current research into Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and a

ciguatera toxin connection was funded by the National CFIDS Foundation's

research grant program.

Gail Kansky, President of the National CFIDS Foundation, said, " We believe

this to be a significant breakthrough. CFS, which has come to include

myalgic encephalomyelitis, is a very severe illness that has not received

adequate funding or appropriate medical attention. Although there are still

many unanswered questions and much work to be done, research efforts will

ultimately turn the tide in the understanding of this disease and allow

patients to receive appropriate medical therapies. We are indebted to Dr.

Hokama and his colleagues for providing this monumental first step. "

For more information on this study or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, please

contact:

The National CFIDS Foundation

103 Aletha Rd, Needham Ma 02492

(781) 449-3535 Fax (781) 449-8606