Muscle dysfunction / Mitochondrial abnormalities in Retroviral infection

A subset of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is caused by HIV

International M.E. Association:

Several possible mechanisms for exercise and activity dysfunction in people with HIV have been reported. Structural and inflammatory muscle abnormalities in people with HIV, which may impair the muscle's ability to extract or utilize oxygen during exercise, have been widely reported. HIV infection-mediated myopathy, as identified by the presence of necrosis (cell death), nemaline rod bodies (rod-shaped inclusion bodies consisting of alpha-actinin and desmin), inflammation, and vasculitis (inflammation of microvasculature) were found in 26% of individuals infected with HIV who either had never taken antiretroviral therapy or had a low lifetime dose, indicating a deleterious effect of HIV infection on skeletal muscle. Read more>>