| Coagulation Problems Also Found in Gulf War Illness
Study
Funded by NCF By Robert HuntingtonA study that was helped by funding by the National CFIDS Foundation has seen a similar coagulation problem in Gulf War Illness (GWI) as that found in ME/CFIDS. Dr. Kathy Hannan, David Berg, and others published in the October issue of Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis a study that showed activation of the coagulation system under the title of "Activation of the coagulation system in Gulf War Illness: a potential pathophysiologic link with chronic fatigue syndrome, a laboratory approach to diagnosis." The coagulation assays that were used included platelet activation as well as hereditary risk factors. Both ME/CFIDS and GWI show the symptoms may be due to poor blood flow and, therefore, both provide a basis for anticoagulant therapy. The fibrin deposition that has been seen in this study could create local ischemia and pathology by blocking nutrient passage and oxygen delivery in the microcirculation. However, full scale formation of blood clots are not seen because the amount of thrombin formation is not enough needed for this activation. The first sentence in the paper read, "The symptoms of Gulf War Illness (GWI) are similar to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS and or Fibromyalgia)." Using anticoagulants have helped many ME/CFIDS patients who have had their blood tested by Hemex Laboratories in Phoenix, AZ. Now this also applies with patients who have GWI. [Physicians may get further information about testing by going to Hemex.com on the internet or calling 1-800-999-CLOT (2568).] |
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