Original Press Release from the Netherlands: FDA and NIH confirm
'XMRV findings'
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Gendringen, NL (MMD Newswire) June 22, 2010 -- The FDA and the NIH
have independently confirmed the XMRV findings as published in
Science, October last. This confirmation was issued by Dr. Harvey
Alter of the NIH during a closed workshop on blood transfusion held
on May 26-27 in Zagreb. Two journalists from the Dutch magazine for
health professionals, ORTHO, who have been working on XMRV stories
for several months, were able to obtain a copy of the Alter lecture.
In the October 8, 2009 issue of Science Express, the
Lombardi-Mikovits group at the Whittemore Peterson Institute (WPI),
the Cleveland Clinic and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) reported
that 67% of 101 chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients tested
positive for infection with xenotropic murine retrovirus (XMRV). Only
3.7% of 218 healthy subjects tested were positive for this
gammaretrovirus. Since that time, a number of research groups have
proved unable to independently confirm these findings.
On Friday last, the AABB released an Association Bulletin
recommending that its member blood collectors actively discourage
potential donors who have been diagnosed with CFS from donating blood
or blood components. This interim measure was proposed by the AABB
Interorganizational Task Force on XMRV. This Task Force includes
representatives from several government agencies, including the
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The fact that the measure was introduced suggests the presence of
information not yet published. The ORTHO journalists were able to
obtain a pdf document of the lecture given by Harvey Alter at the
IPFA/PEI 17th Workshop on 'Surveillance and screening of Blood Borne
Pathogens' in Zagreb. The International Plasma Fractionation
Association (IPFA) represents the not-for-profit organizations around
the world involved in plasma fractionation. The IPFA is based in
Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
The highly-experienced Dr. Harvey Alter is Clinical Studies Chief at
the Infectious Diseases and Immunogenetics Section of the Department
of Transfusion Medicine at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda. "The
data in the Lombardi, et al Science manuscript are extremely strong
and likely true, despite the controversy", was one comment on the
XMRV findings reported by Alter in Zagreb. "Although blood
transmission to humans has not been proved, it is probable. The
association with CFS is very strong, but causality not proved. XMRV
and related MLVs are in the donor supply with an early prevalence
estimate of 3% 7%. We (FDA & NIH) have independently confirmed the
Lombardi group findings."
Lydia E. Neilson, M.S.M., Founder
Chief Executive Officer
National ME/FM Action Network
512 - 33 Banner Road
Nepean, ON K2H 8V7 Canada
Tel. (613) 829-6667 Fax (613) 829-8518
E-mail: ag922(a)ncf.ca
Web:
http://www.mefmaction.net