Method of diagnosing and treating epstein barr virus-based myalgic encephalomyelitis chronic fatigue syndrome patients

Abstract

A method of diagnosing a subset of Epstein Barr Virus, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients through a multi-prong clinical/serological analysis is provided wherein Epstein Barr Virus Abortive Lytic Replication (EBV) is determined as the specific causal agent through the use of serum antibodies to EBV encoded dUTPase and serum antibodies to EBV DNA Polymerase as molecular markers. A method of treating patients diagnosed with Epstein Barr Virus Abortive Lytic Replication (EBV), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) with specific antiviral nucleosides is also provided, to alleviate the condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of diagnosing an Epstein-Barr virus based Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patient, comprising the step of: Identifying Epstein-Barr virus Abortive Lytic replication by determining the presence of serum antibodies to EBV encoded dUTPase or EBV encoded DNA Polymerase in the patient. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the presence of EBV encoded dUTPase and DNA Polymerase antibodies further comprises the steps of: obtaining a blood sample from the patient; and analyzing the blood for the presence of serum antibodies to EBV dUTPase or EBV encoded DNA Polymerase. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibodies are detected using a neutralization assay. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibodies are detected using a multiplex immunoassay. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibodies are detected using a Luminex Multiplex Immunoassay. 
     
     
         6 . A method of diagnosing an Epstein-Barr virus subset of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients, comprising the steps of:
 i. Determining the presence of encoded EBV Early Antigen, Diffuse;   ii. Determining the presence of EBV encoded DNA polymerase;   iii. Determining the presence of EBV encoded dUTPase; and   iv. Diagnosing a patient with Epstein Barr Abortive Lytic Replication when the presence of EBV Early Antigen, Diffuse is found in conjunction with the presence of EBV encoded DNA polymerase or EBV encoded dUTPase.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of determining the presence of EBV encoded dUTPase further comprises obtaining assays to detect the presence of serum antibodies to the early EBV non-structural proteins of the EBV tegument. 
     
     
         8 . A method of diagnosing the causation agent for a Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patient, comprising the step of:
 a. Determining the absence of Epstein-Barr virus Abortive Lytic replication, comprising the steps of:   i. Determining the absence of serum antibodies to EBV VCA IgM;   ii. Determining the absence of serum antibodies to EBV encoded DNA polymerase; and   ii. Determining the absence of serum antibodies to EBV encoded dUTPase.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the absence of EBV encoded dUTPase is further determined through assays for serum antibodies to the early EBV non-structural proteins of the EBV tegument. 
     
     
         10 . A method of diagnosing and treating a subset of patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, comprising the step of: Identifying Epstein-Barr virus Abortive Lytic replication in patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome through the use of serum antibodies to EBV dUTPase and EBV DNA Polymerase as molecular markers; and
 treating the subset of patients with the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of at least one antiviral agent.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the antiviral agent is selected from the group consisting of valacyclovir, valganciclovir, maribavir, famciclovir and foscarnet. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the antiviral agent is valacyclovir. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the antiviral agent is administered for a period of over 12 months. 
     
     
         14 . A method of diagnosing an Epstein-Barr virus subset of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients, comprising the steps of:
 a. Positive screening criteria for ME/CFS;   b. Testing serologic levels for the following indicia:
 i. The absence of IgM, IgG Borrelia burgdorferi; 
 ii. The absence of Babesia microti, IgM, IgG; 
 iii. The absence of Ehrlichia phagocytophilia; 
 iv. positive serum titer for IgG or IgM to Mycoplasma pneumonia; and 
 v. Antistreptolysin 0 titer levels at less than 400; 
   c. Testing for abnormal cardiac functionality; and   d. Detecting the presence of serum antibodies to EBV dUTPase or EBV DNA polymerase.