Cytokine expression provides clues to the pathophysiology of Gulf War illness and myalgic encephalomyelitis.

ABSTRACT: Gulf War illness (GWI) is a chronic disease of unknown etiology characterized by persistent symptoms such as cognitive impairment, unexplained fatigue, pervasive pain, headaches, and gastrointestinal abnormalities. Current reports suggest that as many as 200,000 veterans who served in the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War were afflicted. Several potential triggers of GWI have been proposed including chemical exposure, toxins, vaccines, and unknown infectious agents. However, a definitive cause of GWI has not been identified and a specific biological marker that can consistently delineate the disease has not been defined. Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a disease with similar and overlapping symptomology, and subjects diagnosed with GWI typically fit the diagnostic criteria for ME. For these rea

SUBMITTER: Khaiboullina SF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4410698 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature