BMJ 9 March 2011: research suggests that infection with XMRV causes chronic fatigue syndrome

BMJ 2011; 342:d689 doi: 10.1136/bmj.d689 (Published 9 March 2011)

Case Report
A young woman with rigors and abdominal pain

O A Leach, ST2 core medical trainee1, E J Gilbert, foundation year 2 doctor2, A Evans, consultant in endocrinology and diabetes1, G I van Boxel, foundation year 2 doctor1;

- Author Affiliations

1Department of Endocrine Medicine, Cheltenham General Hospital, Cheltenham GL53 7AN, UK
2Department of Respiratory Medicine, Yeovil District Hospital, Yeovil, UK


Complete recovery is the norm, usually within several weeks. Infectious mononucleosis is associated with chronic fatigue syndrome, which develops in up to 40% of patients; academic studies and normal activity may be significantly affected.6 29 It is unclear whether EBV directly causes chronic fatigue syndrome.

Recent research suggests that infection with the retrovirus XMRV causes chronic fatigue syndrome.30

XMRV can also activate latent EBV, which may cause the apparent association.

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